APSC Toppers' Interview & Preparation Strategy
Telephonic interview with Mr. Raja Baishya, APSC 2016 – Rank 44 (ACS Jr. Grade)
Adhikary Education: Many congratulations on your grand success in APSC 2016 on securing 44 Ranks in Assam Civil Service. You were associated with us in APSC Prelims FREE GS Mock Tests (Ranked 2nd and 5th in two FREE Tests) and APSC Prelims Test Series 2017 – GS Paper.
INTERVIEW Qs & As
Adhikary Education: Tell us something about your Academic Background?
Raja Baishya: I did my HSLC from Don Bosco High School, Tezpur in 2004.
Highest Secondary from Darang College, Tezpur in 2006.
Graduation in Botany from Cotton College in 2010.
Post-Graduation from Guwahati University in Botany.
Adhikary Education: When and How decided to appear for APSC?
Raja Baishya: After my Post Graduation, I was working as JRF till 2015 and then joined as Asst. Professor. That was the time when I realized that I need to appear for APSC.
Adhikary Education: Number of Attempt in APSC CCE?
Raja Baishya: This is my third Attempt. In my earlier attempt I had taken botany as optional but this time I changed it to History.
Adhikary Education: Tell us something about your work experience?
Raja Baishya: I was JRF, Biotechnology at Guwahati University till 2015, after that I joined as Assistant Professor.
Adhikary Education: What was your optional subjects in APSC Prelims and Mains?
Raja Baishya: For Prelims, my optional was Indian History.
And for Mains, my optionals were Education and Political Science.
(Not taken History as an optional in APSC Mains because I didn’t prepare well the World History part)
Adhikary Education: What was your style Preparation and Making Notes?
Raja Baishya: I made notes for everything. For History, I prepared notes for Ancient, Medieval and Modern History.
Note made mostly point-wise, so that revision becomes easy.
Adhikary Education: What do you think are the most important/necessary Books for APSC Prelims, mainly GS Paper?
Raja Baishya:
- Indian Polity for Civil Services Examination Kindle Edition by M. Laxmikanth
- Indian History by Krishna Reddy
- Economics note made from ias100.in and Mrunal
- Geography of India by Majid Husain
- Certificate Physics and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
Adhikary Education: What were Coaching & Test Series you joined with GS paper of Prelims and Mains?
Raja Baishya: I took only one Test Series, that is yours (Adhikary Education’s APSC Prelims Test Series 2017 – GS Paper).
And for APSC Prelims and Mains, I took Govt of Assam’s State Level Advisory Committee for Students and Youth Welfare (SLAC) coaching for 1 month.
ForYourInformation: Govt of Assam SLAC provide Free Coaching for APSC Prelims and Mains Exam. They conduct coaching for APSC Prelims in various districts of Assam but for APSC Mains, they conduct coaching only in Guwahati.
Adhikary Education: What were the Study Materials you used for History optional for APSC Prelims Exam?
Raja Baishya:
- Indian History by Krishna Reddy
- Various Magazines – Civil Service Chronicles, etc.
Adhikary Education: What were the Study Materials you used for Education optional for APSC Mains Exam?
Raja Baishya: I read only one book. i.e. A textbook of Education by Lakshya Hira Das, This book is enough.
Adhikary Education: What were the Study Materials you used for Political Science optional for APSC Mains Exam?
Raja Baishya: For First Paper, I used book by Dipti Sharma and Chandra Prakash and for Second Paper, I used Indian Polity for Civil Services Examination Kindle Edition by M. Laxmikanth
For International Organization I used book by Chandra Prakash.
I have also used Internet and YouTube materials for many topics preparation.
Adhikary Education: What was writing Strategy in Mains Exam exam?
Raja Baishya: I have written most of the answers point-wise.
Used the format of Introduction-body-conclusion
Underlined important points with pen.
Adhikary Education: Apart from books/study materials, what other Internet resources, website, youtube videos you used?
Raja Baishya: I have mostly used Unacademy, Mrunal and Kalyan sir.
Adhikary Education: Many aspirants are confused about the extent of Current Affairs needed to prepare. Current Affairs for recent how many months is sufficient?
Raja Baishya: I think Current Affairs for 10 to 12 months should be sufficient. But this time NOT many Questions came from Current Affairs.
I have prepared from various sources including videos.
Adhikary Education: Tell us something about your interview (Last Battle of the APSC CCE war)?
Raja Baishya: My interview lasted for about 30 minutes.
Total 3 members in the Board, Chairman Shri Dipak Kr. Sarma was there.
I have given some mock interview.
Adhikary Education: What is your ADVICE for all the new and old aspirants who are going to write APSC CCE 2018?
Raja Baishya: “You should prepare well, hard working. It is not that you just once go and sit for the exam. I think they have to prepare well as the competition is very tough these days. It is not comparable to earlier years. So many aspirants are preparing. Hard working, perseverance and patience is required and continues efforts is must for clearing this exam. This time I think students are really preparing very well. No. of aspirants are also going up every years.”
Adhikary Education: How was our Test Series? How useful it was?
Raja Baishya: It was very useful. I also prepared note from these Tests and written down important points, and it was very helpful. (I took only this Test Series).
Adhikary Education: How is the website www.Assamexam.com, any advice for betterment of our website?
Raja Baishya:www.Assamexam.com Website is very very good and I think you have taken a lot of efforts. Your website is helping the students in the preparation, very very useful.
Adhikary Education: Any expected date of joining training?
Raja Baishya: Till now, no information and hopefully it will come soon.
Adhikary Education: Thank you very much for your time and congratulation again for clearing the most coveted exam in Assam. Wish you a successful civil service career and may you serve well the people of Assam.
(Raja Baishya -> Thank you <- Adhikary Education) ∞
Thank you very much.
