Learn PYQ-based Note Making | by Arvind Sir

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Every serious UPSC aspirant makes notes.
But very few make notes that actually help them write answers in the exam hall.

The truth is that note making is not about collecting facts or summarizing books. It is about building a recall system that aligns with how UPSC frames its questions. And the best way to do that is through PYQ-based note making.

In this live session, I will explain how to build a note making system that doesn’t just look neat on paper, but actually thinks like UPSC.

What I’ll cover in this session

1.⁠ ⁠Why most aspirants make the wrong kind of notes
Many aspirants start making notes without understanding what the exam demands. They rewrite content from coaching material, NCERTs, or online lectures but fail to connect those notes to real UPSC questions. I will explain why this approach wastes time and how to reverse it using a smarter, question first approach.

2.⁠ ⁠PYQs as your compass, not just reference
UPSC never repeats questions word for word, but it repeats ideas and patterns.
We will go through ten years of PYQs from GS Papers 1–4 to identify how questions evolve and what conceptual depth the examiner expects.
You will see how to use PYQs to find hidden micro themes in the syllabus and anticipate future question areas.

3.⁠ ⁠How to make smart, layered notes
Not every topic requires the same level of detail. I’ll show my three layer note making method that moves from basic to advanced understanding
Layer 1: Core concepts, definitions, and examples.
Layer 2: Data points, case studies, and key reports.
Layer 3: Integration with current affairs and analytical depth.
This system helps you build one set of notes that can serve GS, Essay, and Optional papers simultaneously.

4.⁠ ⁠One pager revision sheets
Detailed notes are important, but they can be overwhelming before Mains. I will demonstrate how to compress long notes into one pager summaries that allow quick, last mile revision. Each one pager will help you recall multiple ideas across dimensions in just a few minutes.

5.⁠ ⁠Building cross paper linkages
PYQs often connect across papers. For instance, an issue asked in GS Paper 2 may also have ethical or economic dimensions. I will explain how to identify overlaps between papers and make your notes reflect those linkages. This ensures integrated preparation rather than compartmentalised study.

What you will take away
•⁠ ⁠A clear, step by step note-making framework that you can use for any subject.
•⁠ ⁠A decade’s worth of PYQ analysis that helps you focus on recurring themes.
•⁠ ⁠A method to integrate static notes with current affairs and test practice.
•⁠ ⁠The mindset to shift from collecting information to building insights that can be written in answers.

Why this session matters
Most aspirants work hard, but without structure, their preparation remains scattered. PYQ based note making gives your preparation direction. It helps you focus on what UPSC has already shown interest in and anticipate where the next set of questions will come from.

When your notes are built around PYQs, every page you write becomes relevant to the exam. This is exactly how top performers in Smash Mains prepare through precision, pattern recognition, and purpose.

Join Smash Mains 2026: https://shorturl.at/8gyWq