test series & quality improvement program (qip) mains … · (b) all themes and topics...

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TESTS ► FROM DIRECT TO ANALYTICAL

MINI TESTS SECTIONAL TESTS FLT

GS 16 + ESSAY 4 GS 7 GS 8 + ESSAY 2

CLASSES/VIDEOS ► FROM CONTENT TO ANSWER WRITING SKILL ENHANCEMENT

TEST DISCUSSION VIDEOS QIP CLASSES/VIDEO (100 hours)

Content Development + Test Discussion &

Answer Writing Skill Development

Discussion on Contemporary issues along

with Answer Writing Skill Enhancement

MULTI-LAYERED EVALUATION & FEEDBACK ► 3 TIER SYSTEM

01 Evaluation by

expert 02

Review of evaluated

answer copies 03

One-to-one

feedback

TEST SERIES &

QUALITY

IMPROVEMENT

PROGRAM (QIP)

MAINS 2020

37

Rau’s IAS Study Circle | QIP Mains 2020

1. Comprehensive Content Development* in all relevant themes and topics (conceptual as well as

current/contemporary) for Mains 2020.

2. Development of multi-dimensional and analytical perspective.

3. Answer writing skill development and enhancement.

4. Continuous Improvement using evaluation, feedback and personal mentorship.

5. UPSC Mains simulation.

Please Note (*)

(a) A list of themes & topics will be given to students before MINI tests for focussed and in-depth

preparation.

(b) All themes and topics (conceptual as well as current/contemporary) relevant and important for Mains

2020 will be covered in a systematic manner across various tests, QIP and Mains Compass rendering

you 100% prepared for Mains 2020.

It is a targeted course and most suitable for aspirants who have a good handle on basics. Every serious

aspirant will benefit immensely from the modus operandi of this exam-centric course.

It is exam-centric and targeted because we keenly focus on such themes which have high chances of

being asked in the Mains exam. We do that by:

o picking the most relevant topics by analysing the current issues and mapping them to syllabus, and

o identifying the static themes by examining the trends in previous years’ question papers.

Then, our approach is to help you to develop content comprehensively on all such themes, develop multi-

dimensional perspective across them and improve your answer writing skills.

Guided & Systematic preparation through a Test Plan inclusive of list of themes.

Test Discussion videos for content and answer writing skill development.

Micro-to-Macro approach to enable multiple revisions and consolidation of shortlisted themes.

Personalized Learning offered through elearn.rauias.com (Online facility)

o enables you to learn at your own pace, and

o take tests anytime, from anywhere (flexi scheduling of tests)

Trusted content & expert guidance: You will be taught, mentored and evaluated by a team which

specializes in UPSC and has a collective experience of more than 6 decades.

Personal mentorship/One-to-One feedback ensures that all of your queries are answered.

Mains Compass (Study Material): A compilation of all themes important for the Mains in one place

will be given to you between June and Sep 2020. Presentation of key points will be along the answer

writing approach - Background/explanation of the topic, Positives, Negatives, Impact Assessment

(Social-Political-Economic-Cultural, etc), Observations/ Reports/ Committees and Measures for

improvement.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

TARGETED COURSE: WHO WILL BENEFIT?

FEATURES


TS + QIP COMPREHENSIVE MAINS 2020

TS + QIP FOCUSED

MAINS 2020

L1 + L2 + L3 L2 + L3

L1 (Mini Tests |Conceptual topics |Direct Qs)

L2 (Sectional Tests | Contemporary & Current

topics |Analytical Qs)

L3 (FLTs | Exam simulation)

Tests at L1 and L2 will be followed by thorough

Test Discussion videos

Tests at L3 are mock tests

QIP videos at L2

L2 (Sectional Tests | Contemporary &

Current topics |Analytical Qs)

L3 (FLTs | Exam simulation)

Tests at L1 and L2 will be followed by

thorough Test Discussion videos

Tests at L3 are mock tests

QIP videos at L2

No. of GS Tests 31

No. of Q&As 460

No. of Essay Tests 6

Test Types Mini GS (16) + Mini Essay (4) +

Sectional GS (7) + FLT GS (8) + FLT Essay (2)

No. of GS Tests 15

No. of Q&As 300

No. of Essay Tests 2

Test Types Sectional (7) + FLT GS (8) +

FLT Essay (2)

Evaluation & Feedback

Personal Mentoring

Mains Compass

Evaluation & Feedback

Personal Mentoring

Mains Compass

L1: 13 Oct’19 – 23 Feb’20

L2 & L3: 28 June’20 – 06 Sep’20 L2 & L3: 28 June’20 – 06 Sep’20

INR 36,000 INR 30,000

- 50% discount for Rau’s IAS old GSI program students - 20% discount for Rau’s IAS old Optional program students

1. Offline Format: Tests can be taken at Study Circle's campuses at Delhi, Bengaluru and Jaipur on any

Saturday and Sunday between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. Your evaluated Question and Answer Booklet

(QAB) will be uploaded onto your elearn.rauias.com account between 10 and 15 days after the

submission of QAB.

2. Online Format: Tests can also be taken from your home.

a) You can download the QAB from your elearn.rauias.com account any time after the release date

of the test.

b) Take print of the QAB booklet, write your answers in the available space and upload the scanned

QAB back in your account against the test.

c) You will get the evaluated copies back in your account between 10 and 15 days after

submission of QAB.

3. In the meantime, you will get Test Discussion video and Model Answers: Watch video or refer to

Model Answers to assess how you have done and develop a better line of thought.

4. All tests will have a DATE OF RELEASE. It refers to the release & availability of a test. It is NOT the

ONLY date when you can attempt that test.

COURSES

HOW TO TAKE TESTS - FLEXI SCHEDULING!


5. FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: Tests can be taken at any time within the validity of those tests. Flexible

scheduling allows you to appear for tests based on your plan and preparation.

LEVEL

01 GOALS & MODULES OCT 2019 TO FEB 2020

1

Comprehensive content

development in relevant

Conceptual topics 2

Answer Writing strategy and skills for ‘DIRECT’

question types - elucidate/ elaborate/ exemplify/

enumerate/ distinguish between, etc.

(A)

►

(B)

►

(C) Mini

Tests

Test Discussion videos &

Model Answers

Multi-layered Feedback:

Evaluation + Review + Personal Mentorship

LEVEL

02 GOALS & MODULES JUNE 2020 To SEP 2020

1

Comprehensive content development in

relevant Current topics and their

consolidation with conceptual topics 2

Development of multi-dimensional

perspective to answer analytical questions

3

Answer Writing strategy and skills for

‘ANALYTICAL’ question types – discuss/

critically evaluate/ comment/ etc. 4 Time and speed management

(A)

►

(B)

►

(C)

►

(D)

QIP

videos

Sectional

Tests

Test Discussion

videos & Model

Answers

Multi-layered Feedback:

Evaluation + Review +

Personal Mentorship

LEVEL

03 GOALS & MODULES BEFORE MAINS 2020

1 EXAM SIMULATION: Tests will be conducted back to back exactly in accordance with UPSC time

table.

(A)

►

(B)

►

(C)

FLTs Model Answers Multi-layered Feedback:

Evaluation + Review + Personal Mentorship

PROGRAM STRUCTURE


QIP videos

Discussion on key contemporary themes and related concepts important for

upcoming Mains.

Questions in upcoming Sectional and Full-length tests will be made from the content

of QIP videos & Mains Compass.

Each theme discussed in QIP will be followed by a Descriptive question and the

educator will explain the best approach for writing answers to those questions.

Mini Tests (MTs)

There will be a total of 20 Mini tests in Level 1 (refer to the L1 Test schedule for

details of tests and mechanism for appearing in tests) – 16 tests in GS and 4 in Essay.

Each GS Mini test will be of 10 Qs, 125 marks, 1.5 hours.

In Essay Mini test, you will be required to write Essay on 1 topic out of 4

choices, in 1000-1200 words, 125 mark, 1.5 hours.

Sectional Tests

(STs)

There will be a total of 7 Sectional tests in Level 2 (refer to the L2 Test schedule for

details of tests and mechanism for appearing in tests).

Each Sectional test will be of 20 Q, 250 marks and 3 hours’ duration - for Time and

speed management.

Full Length Tests

(FLTs)

There will be a total of 10 Full Length Tests in Level 3 (refer to the L3 Test schedule)

– 8 tests in GS and 2 in Essay.

FLTs would be conducted back to back exactly in accordance with UPSC time table.

Test Discussion

videos & Model

Answers

Test Discussion video will cover both the facets of the question –

o Conceptual understanding and content development

o Answer Writing Skill - understanding the Question Intent, Content Relevancy and

Answering Mechanism.

Model answers will be available after attempting tests. Model answers will contain:

o relevance/reason for asking the question

o before each answer, the question intent will be explained briefly.

o Model solution will be provided, structured across Introduction, Body and

Conclusion (or as required)

o Reference material will be provided for conceptual clarity

Multi-layered (3-tier structure) Feedback

1. EVALUATION using RAU’S EVALUATION

MATRIX*

All questions will be evaluated using Rau’s

evaluation matrix which has been devised to

simulate UPSC standard as closely as possible.

According to UPSC – “The Main Examination is

intended to assess the overall intellectual traits

and depth of understanding of candidates

rather than merely the range of their information

and memory.”

Rau’s evaluation matrix decodes the two factors

DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING

Context or Question

Interpretation

Content (Relevancy, balance,

enrichment points, etc)

INTELLECTUAL TRAIT or how

you present your ideas

Structure (paragraphs, points,

pictorial representation etc)

Language (articulation,

grammar, etc)

MODULES & HOW THEY WILL WORK


above as ►►►

2. REVIEW or cross-check of the evaluated answer sheets to provide depth to the quality of evaluation and ensure

that the feedback given provides constructive suggestions on all parameters indicated in the evaluation matrix.

3. PERSONAL MENTORSHIP

How to incorporate suggestions provided in feedback to improve answer writing

Evaluation of re-written answers (written after incorporating suggestions)

Personal mentorship can be availed either in person or telephonically (for online/distance learning students)

It is strongly recommended to seek personal mentorship after every few tests.

Mentorship can help immensely in incremental improvement over the year

LEVEL 1

MINI TESTS – GS (16) + ESSAY (4)

►VALIDITY: 13TH OCTOBER 2019 – 29TH FEBRUARY 2020

►FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING WITHIN VALIDITY PERIOD

►Questions will be created from the list of themes and topics indicated before the test.

►Question will be ‘DIRECT’ such as - elucidate/elaborate/exemplify/describe/illustrate. Refer to Annex A to learn

more.

►Mini Tests in GS will be 10 Qs, 125 Marks, 1.5 hours’ duration.

►Mini Tests in Essay will comprise 4 topics out of which essay is required to be written on 1 in 1000-1200 words,

125 Marks, 1.5 hours’ duration

Objectives

►Develop Answer Writing Skills to handle ‘Direct’ Questions.

►Improve conceptual clarity required to write analytical answers in Level 2&3.

TEST SYLLABUS RELEASE DATE

(For test & test discussion videos)

MT(GS)-1 Physical Geography of India & the World 13/10/19

MT(GS)-2 Human & Economic Geography of Indian & the World 20/10/19

MT(GS)-3 Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change &

Disaster Management 03/11/19

MT(GS)-4 Indian Culture 10/11/19

MT(GS)-5 Modern History 17/11/19

MT(GS)-6 Post – Independence History + World History 24/11/19

MT(Essay)-1 Essay (Themes from Geography & History) 25/11/19

MT(GS)-7 Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude - 1 01/12/19

MT(GS)-8 Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude - 2 08/12/19

MT(GS)-9 Ethics in Governance – Case Studies 15/12/19

MT(GS)-10 Indian Polity & Governance - 1 22/12/19

MT(GS)-11 Indian Polity & Governance – 2 29/12/19

MT(Essay)-2 Essay (Themes from Polity and Ethics) 05/01/20

MT(GS)-12 Indian Society and Social Justice 12/01/20

MT(GS)-13 S & T 19/01/20

MT(GS)-14 International Relations & Internal Security 27/01/20

MT(Essay)-3 Essay (Themes from Indian Society and IR) 02/02/20

MT(GS)-15 Economic Development – 1 09/02/20

MT(GS)-16 Economic Development – 2 16/02/20

MT(Essay)-4 Essay (Themes from Economy and S&T) 23/02/20

TESTS PLAN


||

Break for Prelims 2020

||

LEVEL 2

SECTIONAL TESTS (7)

►VALIDITY: 28TH JUNE 2020 – 15TH AUGUST 2020

►FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING WITHIN VALIDITY PERIOD

►Questions will be created from the themes covered in QIP classes/videos and Mains Compass.

►Sectional Tests will be released/conducted alongside QIP schedule (schedule of QIP will be shared in June 2020)

►Question will be ‘ANALYTICAL’ such as – discuss/ critically evaluate/ analyze/etc. Refer to Annex A to learn more.

►All tests will be 20 Qs, 250 marks and 3 hours’ duration.

Objective

►Develop multi-dimensional perspective.

►Develop Answer Writing skills to justify ‘ANALYTICAL’ questions

TEST SYLLABUS RELEASE DATE

(For test & test discussion videos)

ST(GS)-1 Geography + Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity + Disaster

Management (GS Paper-1+3) 28/06/20

ST(GS)-2 History - Culture, Modern, Post-Independence & World History

(GS Paper-1) 05/07/20

ST(GS)-3 Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude - Theory & Case Studies (GS Paper -

4) 12/07/20

ST(GS)-4 Indian Polity & Governance (GS Paper-2) 19/07/20

ST(GS)-5 Indian Society & Social Justice + S&T (GS Paper-1+2) 26/07/20

ST(GS)-6 International Relations & Internal Security

(GS Paper-2+3) 02/08/20

ST(GS)-7 Economic Development (GS Paper-3) 09/08/20

LEVEL 3

FULL-LENGTH TESTS – GS (8) + ESSAY (2)

►VALIDITY: TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON EXACT DATES AND AT EXACT TIMES UNDER

STRICT DISCIPLINE FOR EXACT UPSC SIMULATION

►FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING IS NOT APPLICABLE AT L3

►ONLINE FORMAT: STUDENTS APPEARING FROM HOME MUST SUBMIT THEIR QAB(s)

BY 9 PM MAXIMUM ON THE RESPECTIVE DAYS.

►Full Length Tests will be conducted at the end of QIP schedule.

TEST SYLLABUS TEST DATE

(For test & test discussion videos) TEST TIME

FLT (Essay) - 1 Essay 16/08/20 9 am – 12 pm

FLT(GS) – 1 GS – 1 (Full Syllabus) 23/08/20 9 am – 12 pm

FLT(GS) – 2 GS – 2 (Full Syllabus) 23/08/20 2 pm – 5 pm







FLT (Essay) - 2 Essay 06/09/20 9 am – 12 pm


Examples to differentiate between nature of Questions and related Answer Writing Strategy and Skill

development in Level 1 (Mini Tests) and Level 2 (Sectional Tests). Full Length Tests in Level 2 will be a mix

of all sorts of Questions for exact UPSC simulation.

Subject/Theme L1 | MINI TESTS L2 | SECTIONAL TESTS

Nature of

Questions

Direct, Basic Conceptual, Non-analytical,

fact based

Statement based, Indirect, Implicit,

Multi-dimensional, Analytical, Opinion

based

Question Tags

such as Elaborate, Enumerate, Distinguish Critically evaluate, Discuss

Level of Difficulty Easy to Moderate High & Complex

Indian Culture

Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk

motifs and narratives successfully expounds

Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. (2016)

Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India

not only reflects the cultural life of the

times but also a tine aesthetic sense

comparable to modem painting.

Critically evaluate this comment. (2015)

Modern History

Elaborate the role of women in Indian

National Movement. (RausIAS Mains Test

Series)

“In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the

founder of modern India.” Elaborate (2013)

Discuss the role of women in the

freedom struggle especially during the

Gandhian phase. (2016)

How different would have been the

achievement of Indian independence

without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.

(2015)

Geography

Enumerate the problems and prospects of

inland water transport in India. (2016)

There is no formation of deltas by rivers of

the Western Ghat. Why? (2013)

It is said the India has substantial

reserves of shale oil and gas, which can

feed the needs of country for quarter

century. However, tapping of the

resources doesn’t appear to be high on

the agenda. Discuss critically the

availability and issues involved. (2013)

Indian Society

Why are the tribals in India referred to as

‘the Scheduled Tribes’? Indicate the major

provisions enshrined in the Constitution of

India for their upliftment. (2016)

What are the two major legal initiatives by

the State since Independence, addressing

discrimination against Scheduled Tribes

(STs)? (2017)

“Caste system is assuming new identities

and associational forms. Hence, caste

system cannot be eradicated in India.”

Comment. (2018)

Has the formation of linguistic States

strengthened the cause of Indian Unity?

(2016)

Polity &

Governance

What is quasi-judicial body? Explain with the

help of concrete examples. (2016)

The Indian party system is passing

through a phase of transition which looks

to be full of contradictions and

paradoxes.” Discuss. (2016)

Internal Relations

What are the main functions of United Nations

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)?

Explain different functional commissions

attached to it? (2016)

‘China is using its economic relations and

positive trade surplus as tools to develop

potential military power status in Asia’, In

the light of this statement, discuss its

impact on India as her neighbor. (2017)

Science &

Technology

What do you understand by Fixed Dose Drug

Combinations (FDCs)? Discuss their merits

and demerits? (2013)

India has achieved remarkable successes

in unmanned space missions including

the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbitter

Mission, but has not ventured into

ANNEXURE A


manned space mission, both in terms of

technology and logistics? Explain

critically. (2017)

Internal Security

What are social networking sites and what

security implications do these sites present?

(2013)

The diverse nature of India as a

multireligious and multi-ethnic society is

not immune to the impact of radicalism

which has been in her neighbourhood.

Discuss along with the strategies to be

adopted to counter this environment.

(2014)

Economics

What do you mean by Minimum Support Price

(MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from

the low income trap? (2018)

Capitalism has guided the world economy

to unprecedented prosperity. However, it

often encourages shortsightedness and

contributes to wide disparities between

the rich and the poor. In this light, would

it be correct to believe and adopt

capitalism driving inclusive growth in

India? Discuss. (2014)

Environment

What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept

of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland

conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar

sites from India. (GS-3 Mains 2018)

What is water-use efficiency? Describe the

role of micro-irrigation in increasing the water-

use efficiency. (2016)

Environmental impact assessment

studies are increasingly undertaken

before project is cleared by the

government. Discuss the environmental

impacts of coal-fired thermal plants

located at Pitheads. (2014)

Ethics

Distinguish between “Code of ethics“ and

“Code of Conduct“ with suitable examples

(2018)

Max Weber said that it is not wise to

apply to public administration the sort of

moral and ethical norms we apply to

matters of personal conscience. It is

important to realise that the State

bureaucracy might possess its own

independent bureaucratic morality.

Critically analyse this statement. (2016)

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test series & quality improvement program (qip) mains … · (b) all themes and topics...

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