8 things i wish someone told me when i was preparing for IES..

I was not perfect. No one in my whole family or friends never actually thought about IES leave alone clearing it. Even when my college friend talked about it in 4 year it was something unachievable at least for (non studious) me. Ironically he's in BHEL now and i'll be probably getting railways(touch wood).Now when i look back there is definitely a experience advantage. That's why if one in family become an IAS, his brother,sister,cousins etc have a huge chance of making it into services. Well, i wish i was one of those fortunate with high achieving family but i belong to a family of farmers(father's) and mikmen(mother's).Follwing are the things i wish i had known beforehand, though not necesarrily in the same order. Please don't mock me if you already know!!

1. Ies is a damn easy exam of course you need to work your butts off. What i mean to say that in class all the examples we do are the toughest one's. Ies is a mix bag of easy, damn easy and little difficult one's.Most questions are repetitive.Once you have understood the concepts,they all seem the same.
2. Objective exam is much easier to score but you need to do the subjective question's practise to get hold of concepts.Yes, solving only objective one's will give you half knowledge.It's solved questions in book will give you complete picture and prepare you for new questions just in case.
3. Revise revise revise Your ability to forget is monumentary.I read p k nag thermo at least 10 times sincerely apart from class notes. But my mock interview i had forgotten 2nd law. Just like that.This is the golden rule for success.Don't trust your brain..
4. Comfort level for environment. As you know delhi has harsh environment. So unlike me (kanjoos makhichoos) invest in a heater in winter and cooler in summers. I recall wasting entire afternoon in summers in my heated up room and morning and nights fighting cold in winters. It's a sheer waste of time.Buy a comfortable chair and bed and gadda too.Don't think it's for few months, Think of it as an investment for concentration in studies.
5. Don't set a time table when not following it upto hilt gives you frustrations. Just get up and start reading untill you feel hungry or tired. If you waste time in getting your body to follow your time table.It's useless.
6. Do not buy foreign author books No matter how much our teachers criticize indian authors, they are value for money and time. Don't forget you are not here for research purposes, only competitive exam purposes.I bought kalpakjian, popov and tried to read them. You need extra dimag to actually understand them in first place and they were of no use at all.
7. Library Oh God!! how much i wish i had known these library hidden in Delhi when i was preparing. They are such a nice place to sit away from the familiarity and claustrophobic sleepy atmosphere of your room with no one disturbing you. Some even give tea and nice lunch. Most of them have air conditioning and subscription of newspapers and magazines.And they are located near the sarais too. Look for them nearby your room and you will find them if your are lucky.
8. NPTEL Videos and others available on youtube.You will be surpized to find huge study material online, But please don't overdo it. Only in your spare time take a look to memorize the concept or understand it.

I ve been meaning to tell 10 but i can't recall anymore. Please comment if anything in this post interests you..