How to read NCERT Books for UPSC/GPSC

Read NCERTs in 3 passes.

1st pass 

• Read the textbook with pencil in your hand.

• Underline what you think is important.

• Don't try to remember anything , just read it like a novel. 

• Try to understand what the author is trying to convey. 

• If you don't understand then use Google , YouTube, Quora, Wikipedia etc.

NOW read the previous years question papers or go through a test series.

2nd pass 

• Read the textbook with an eraser in hand.

• Erase/rub out the lines that you feel you unnecessarily marked the first time.

• Try to revise the concepts you read the first time. 

• Interconnect - While reading about history try to remember the social and economic condition of that period. Try to recollect the geography of that particular place. Try to       associate if that place is in news in recent time or does it have a biosphere reserve.   In       short play around. You get the idea.

• The above step is not necessary if you are short on time.

NOW read the previous years question papers or go through a test series again.

3rd pass 

• This is the revision pass. Sit with a highlighter / pen. 

• Swim through the pages and HIGHLIGHT the things or concepts or definitions that you CANNOT RECALL. 

• After one chapter is over , summarize the content of the whole chapter in no more than 50-100 words. 

• Done. Go and give your exam. Don't forget to rock it.

- If you successfully summarize the chapter , you are prepared for mains. 

- If you successfully find out concepts you aren't clear with or can't remember , you are      prepared for prelims!

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME

Again we do it in three passes.

1st pass Read the previous year question papers.

2nd pass Read the textbooks.

3rd pass Give tests or attempt previous year question papers.

Revision Come back to textbooks only to read the concepts or things you got wrong. Also read the related things.

old ncerts , Geo and history of 11th and 12th comes highly recommended.

Follow top-bottom approach. Read NCERTs of higher classes first and then read lower classes' NCERTs.

(Higher NCERTs gives you a broad framework. Lower NCERTs fill in the minute details)

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