09 – Two Types of Revisions in UPSC Prelims Preparation

Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Admin

One common piece of advice you will hear from every topper is: “Revise, revise, and revise!” However, as you must have experienced, revisions, over a period get boring and less and less value addition happens through every subsequent revision.

In this article, we will try to throw more light on how exactly this works and what you need to do about it.

There are two broad types of revision that we knowingly-unknowingly do. The first is the regular reading of standard books and/or personal notes. The second is revision through mock test practice and detailed analysis – a more active, hands-on approach where you learn by first committing a mistake.

Type 1: Regular Revision with Standard Books and Notes

Every UPSC aspirant starts their journey with a stack of standard textbooks and notes. These could be NCERTs, reference books like Laxmikant or personal notes from coaching. Regular revision of these materials means going over them multiple times so that the information sticks in your memory. This is the classic form of revision – something you might have been doing since your school days.

In this type of revision, for first and second readings, you try to underline/highlight important points. Add more wherever required. It is also recommended to prepare short notes or flashcards during second or third reading – to make subsequent revisions faster and easier. From third revision onwards, you should also try to recall the content without immediately looking at the text and then confirming from the book or your notes. The idea is simple: the more you re-read and self-test on the content, the better you remember it.

This type of reading is most natural form of study and is crucial for building a strong knowledge foundation. By repeatedly reading standard sources, you ensure that previously covered topics do not fade away as you move on to new ones. Further, for complicated subjects, each round of reading deepens your understanding.

On the flip side, this form of revision can become passive and monotonous over period.

Type 2: Revision Through Mock Tests and Detailed Analysis

Now let us talk about the second type of revision i.e. revision through mock tests and analysis. This type is relative more challenging, active, and exciting.

Suppose you take a mock test of one hundred questions under exam-like conditions. Once those two hours are over, the real revision work begins. You check your answers and carefully go through each question, whether you got it right or wrong.

For questions you answered incorrectly, you figure out why: Did you misremember a fact? Was it something you never studied? Did you interpret the question wrong? This often leads you back to your books or notes to review that specific topic in detail. This way you revise that topic with a clear purpose in mind.

In this process, I personally recommend going through your own sources on the topic and trying to locate the answer, rather than just referring the explanation given with mock test. This ensures that over period, you become thorough with your own sources.

As mentioned above, the biggest advantage of revision via mock tests is that it is highly active and engaging. Moreover, by checking and analysing answers, you immediately address your weak spots. Over period, as you give more mock tests, you cover lot of such small-small topics, and almost entire syllabus.

Know that doing mocks without proper analysis defeats the purpose. If someone just takes test after test and only looks at their score without digging into what went wrong, you do not gain anything. The learning is in the analysis.

A Quick Comparison

Put simply, regular revision (Type 1) is like building a strong base by repeatedly layering bricks of knowledge. Mock-test-based revision (Type 2) is like testing that building for weak spots and fixing them as you go. Each has its own role.

The biggest benefit of regular revision is – comprehensiveness.  It ensures no part of the syllabus is ignored and you keep refreshing your memory.

Mock test revision, on the other hand, helps you identify your weakness. It exposes you. We analyse the questions where we did mistakes… emotions are involved… and whatever we study in this manner, we tend to remember for longer time.

Since the second type of revision focuses only on one topic at a time, you cannot cover entire syllabus in this manner. However, the first type of revision cannot match the quality you get through second type of revision.

In fact, the two methods complement each other. They are not in competition for your time; rather, you need both. One without the other can leave you vulnerable. While the type 1 is about quantity, type 2 is about quality.

Balancing Both Types of Revisions

The next big question that needs addressing is – managing both types of revisions, and proper time management.

First, know that the balance shifts depending on where you are in your preparation journey. In the initial stages (when you are still covering the syllabus or have just finished the first reading), you should lean more towards first type of revision/reading.

In the later stages, when you have done at least first round of reading, each subsequent reading should take lesser time, and you should allocate more time to mocks and second type of revision.

Again, a week before exam, you should exclusively focus on first type of revision, and not much on mock tests. This way, you get benefitted from both types of revisions and be prepared for exam in best possible manner.

I hope that this article has clarified this topic of revisions for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment and we will promptly address them. Revision might not be the most glamorous part of preparation, but it is ultimately what converts your hard work into success on exam day. Good luck, and happy revising in both ways!