In
our previous post we have already discussed about the various confusions which
many Judicial aspirants have regarding judicial service examination and also
discussed in detail about the structure, syllabus and eligibility criteria for
Judicial service examination. Read that post from the link given below:-
In
this post we are going to share 20 most important tips and tricks to crack
judicial service examination at the first attempt. Hope it will boost your exam
preparation.
So,
let's start...
20 Most Important Tips And Tricks To Crack
Judicial Service Examination At The First Attempt
As
we have already discussed in our previous post that Judicial Service Examination is held in three
successive stages namely Preliminary Examination, Mains and
Viva-Voce/Interview, now we are going to share some important tips and tricks
to qualify in each stage of the examination....
1. Start Early - The time you
are sure that Judicial services is your final goal and it will not change by
the influence of what others are doing, is the time you should ideally start
preparing for the services. As soon as you reach to this state of mind, you
should start your preparation as we believe earlier you start, greater the
chance of success.
If you reach to this state of mind during your
college then you must not wait till graduation to start preparing for it.
The current trend is that candidates
start preparing for Judicial Services Examinations only after completion of
their LL.B. degree. If they begin their preparation early through self-study
mode, there will be no requirement of any type of coaching. The candidates
should make it a habit to read newspapers and legal magazines that cover model
question papers, interviews of the selected candidates.
2. Know The Syllabus Well - First of all go to the official
PSC websites (for the state you belongs or if the examination is conducted by
High Court, like in Delhi, then go to the official website of High Court) and
find out the actual syllabus for the examination and note them. If the syllabus
provides for specific number divisions for the subjects for preliminary
examination (like, GK- 20 marks, Constitution - 15 marks etc) and mains
examination (like Civil law - 200 marks, Criminal law - 200 marks) then
carefully notes them in your notebook or in any other place, you find
convenient.
3. Search For Past Papers - Just
find out past year papers from market or net. After getting them the first
thing which you will do is to gaze at them. Devote 10 to 15 days just to
understand from where the questions comes and how, also try to find out what
weightage is given to a particular subjects and also to which chapters.
4. Make Proper Strategy And Then Start Reading -
After you identify important topics, your next target is to prepare for them in a proper way. First, make a proper schedule. Like This
1.
Try to learn something new and add to your notes every day.
2.
Learn whatever you have written today.
3.
Revise old work daily. Even if you have to skip step one and two then also
revise at any cost.
So you need to update yourself day by day. But key to success
is revisions. Completing the syllabus is not an as difficult task as it is to
keep it in your mind.
5.
Study Smart And Not Hard - You must scrutinize your syllabus smartly and
target only the scoring areas. There are some areas of the syllabus which can
cost you time equivalent to the time of 4-5 other subjects and have weightage
of just 1 or 2 marks while there are subjects which you can complete in a flash
of time and they have weightage of a lot of marks. Just identify these subjects
and concentrate on them.
6. Self Study Is The Best Study - Quite often than not, aspirants are confused whether to take coaching for the judicial services exams or not. Coaching are not helpful unless there are good teachers out there with innovative teaching methodology. If you find a coaching center with these qualities, then go ahead for it. Else, self-study is sufficient.
7. Prepare Prelims With
Mains - Prelims is just a
qualifying exam for mains. Its marks will never be added to your final
score. Every person above cut off have equal opportunity. Just prepare for
mains and keep practicing MCQs from any good guide for 2 hours daily. Your law
is already being prepared side by side. You just need to practice and that will
be done in those 2 hours. Those 2 hours are more than sufficient for MCQs part.
You will not get time to prepare for your mains after pre. This is a very big
mistake most of the students do. Your pre will be prepared along with your
mains itself. In addition to that, you just need to practice MCQs.
8.
Prepare Bare Acts Well - It is most important for preliminary
examination. Many questions are based solely on bare acts, especially in
pre-examinations. Moreover, in long answers type questions, bare acts will
equip you with a lot of material to properly understand the question and then explain
and write it. Sometimes there will be a question which will be so unexpected
that you will not have enough of matter to write on them.
Good knowledge of bare acts gives you an edge over others. You can at least write something on it if you have basic knowledge of that question. It’s better to write something instead of leaving a question unattempted, but if you will just write anything you are not going to get marks for it.
Now, how to prepare bare acts ??
Take a bare act of any law paper, you have in the syllabus and now read a section carefully and just try to understand the specific contents and ingredients of the section, if any illustration is given also read them carefully and now take your notebook and write them in a summarized way. If you don't have enough time for preparation just underline them in your bare act.
Remember, a good knowledge of A to Z of the Bare Acts is a must to qualify Judicial examination. Yes, you have heard it correct...A to Z of the Bare Acts. Thus while going through the Bare Acts give special attention to Sections, Order and Rules, Definition, Explanation, Exceptions, Illustrations, Examples, Specific contents of the Form and Schedules, Short title, Extent and Commencement of the Act (i.e., Section 1), provisions of Appeals, Savings, and even the Contents of the Bare Acts (our recommendation)
Why Even Contents ??
Because Contents of the Bare Acts came to rescue in the following situations...
1. Mention the total number of sections in the Indian evidence Act???
2. The order against garnishee can be made under (mention the
order and rule)???
3. Chapter 5 of I.P.C. deals with???
4. Determination of attachment is provided in the CPC under
(mention the order and rule)???
The list is not limited to this only, and in preliminary examination minimum 10 to 12 questions are of this type and you can answer them easily if you have a good knowledge about the Contents of the Bare Acts. Now you can assume the importance of Contents, Right??
9. Prepare Punishment Provided in IPC - Quantum of Punishment provided for a particular offence in IPC is very important for all the stages of judicial exam. Even in interview you can be asked about what punishment is given to a particular offence. So, prepare the punishment provided for a particular offence in well planned manner.
But there are many kind of Offences for which punishment is provided in IPC, and it is very difficult to prepare them in a proper way!!!
Wait... we have a solution.
Just take your Cr.P.C. Bare Act and go to the First Schedule, here you can find a table where each offences are provided with their punishment, whether they are cognizable or non cognizable, bailable or non bailable, and by what court triable. Prepare this chart well. This chart is of extreme importance in judicial exam.
10. Prepare Landmark Case Laws - While making notes for mains exam try
to write at least one landmark case law or even a important recent case law on
that topic. You don't need to write the whole case law, just write the ratio
decidendi portion of that case law to support your answer.
Follow
the same thing while replying to questions asked in main examination. It will
enhance the standard of your answer and also attract the examiners.
Again
in preliminary examination also, questions are asked from landmark judgments..
Like
This
1. The Judgment of Criminal Court is
superseded by the judgment of Civil Court as laid down by the Supreme Court
in??? (WBJS, 2014, Prelims)
The
answer is - V.M. Shah Vs. State of
Maharashtra & Anr., (1995) 5 SCC 767
2. The passing of decree gives the right of the parties crystallized and unless the decree is reversed parties cannot be divested of their rights under decree. Such principle is laid down in the decision of??? (WBJS, 2014, Prelims)
The answer is - R. Rathinavel Chettiar & anr. Vs. V. Sivaraman & ors (1999) 4 SCC 89
etc.
But don't waste too much time in preparing landmark judgments for Prelims, because the weightage is very low, and the questions are often very tough.
So, prepare landmark judgment for mains. If in Prelims any
question come from this section, and you know the answer because you have
already prepare it for mains then only attend that questions.
11. Give Your Best Efforts To Prepare Notes For Mains Examination. - As we have already stated Prelims is just a qualifying exam for mains, and the marks secured by the candidates in main examination is counted for final selection. Thus if you have to fulfill your dreams to become a judge you have to score good marks in the mains. Now mains examination is subjective type, and you have to write long answers for the questions asked. So, give your best efforts to prepare notes for the mains from the very first day of your preparation.
Take past 10 year question papers and prepare notes for all the questions asked there. While preparing notes you have to keep in mind that your answer should be such as to attract the examiners to read your answer and force them to provide good marks...
Now how is it possible???
Yes, it is possible just follow the following tips -
1. While preparing notes or replying to questions asked in Mains examination you should include the following things in your answer -
A.
Section/ Order & Rule/ Article related to questions asked
B.
Specific contents and ingredients of concerned Section.
C.
Illustration or example related to concerned Section.
D.
Explanation with reasoning to questions asked.
E.
Leading Case Law related to topic asked.
F.
Evidentiary Value of point discussed.(must in case of Indian Evidence Act)
2.
While replying to questions asked in Mains
examination you should always keep in mind word limit, either it
will create bad impression on the mind of the examiner.
3. Don't make your answer too long. Try and master the
art of ‘précis’. Never use a word that is not needed. Superfluity in language
is a major put-off.
4. Last but not the least, Good Handwriting, Believe it or not, but the examiners check your copies in a hurry. If they find your writing good you get better marks for their convenience, while if you have bad writing, no matter how excellent content you write, fetching marks will be difficult.
12. Solve Past Year Papers As
Well As Mock Test Papers And Keep A Track Of Time. - It is very necessary
to solve past year papers as well as mock test papers for both preliminary and
mains examination. More you solve mock test papers more you gain confidence. It
is also very important to keep a track of timing while solving mock test
papers.
There is no benefit of having a very good knowledge or
writing a very good answer to few questions of the exam when you can’t complete
your paper in given time. Most of the deserving candidates fail to clear it
just because they couldn’t complete paper on time.
Just practice again and again, until you can complete your
paper with at least fifteen minutes additional in your hand after completing
it. Leave that fifteen minutes for revising your answer sheet. If you can
complete it in this much time at your home then only you will be able to
complete it in given time at the examination center.
13. Tips For GK And Current
Affairs Section - Most
of Judicial Preliminary Exams contain a separate paper for general knowledge
(like UPPCS (J). Even in Mains Exams there is a separate paper for GK and
Current Affairs. You are expected to have a good knowledge on
following topics:
(a).
History of India and Indian Culture
(b).
Geography of India
(c).
Indian Polity
(d).
Current national issue and topics of social relevance
(e).
India and the world
(f).
Indian Economy
(g).
International Organizations and Treaties
(h).
Development in the field of Science & Technology
(i).
Development in the field of Space and communication.
For
general knowledge watch News Channels regularly, because the information
perceived through ears & eyes together remain in mind for longer duration.
Also
read newspapers like The Hindu. If you didn't get access to The Hindu, then
read any good English newspaper circulated in your locality.
If
you find any important topic then try to write something on it in your
notebook. Besides improving your knowledge it also enhances your vocabulary
which ultimately helps you to write good essays in English language. The editorial part regarding legal developments is a
very good source for essay.
For
General Knowledge also take help from some good books that are available in the
market.
Make
and maintain news and information on regular basis date wise relating to
International treaties, UNO and allied organizations, important days and dates,
Current held sports championships, Recently given awards, Company mergers &
economy, latest development in the field of Science , telecommunication, space,
Social relevance, Indian history, Noble prize, Indian geography etc.
14. Tips For English Language - For pre you have to prepare grammar. Any student who has even a basic knowledge of English can deal with them. No need for any fancy book or coaching at all for this. Just buy any good grammar books of 10th and 12th standard with solved exercises. Just practice these solved exercises and compare your answer with it. If you do it properly you will not need anything else for it. Similarly, a basic level vocabulary is enough, you don’t need an excellent sort of vocab to deal with them.
In preliminary examination questions from English language generally consists of
1.
Synonyms
2.Antonyms
3.
Idioms and phrases
4.Vocabulary
test
5.
Phrasal verbs
6.
Same words bearing more than one meaning
7.
Use of appropriate and qualifying words
8.
Articles and Determiners
9. Active & Passive Voice
10. Direct and Indirect Speech etc.
9. Active & Passive Voice
10. Direct and Indirect Speech etc.
For mains, just divide essays into various categories such as
- Regional important topics (happened in the state), Legal topics, Current
issues etc. Then prepare a list of topics on all these categories which are
most probable to come. Prepare points on these topics. Just take a topic each
day and try to write an essay on it including the points jotted down by you.
Check it yourself and then write an improved version of it.
Similarly, try to write at least 2 to 3 precis in a week. It will make a habit of writing.
Your work is done now you are ready for the language paper.
Just remember the important points of the essay which is a lot easier to remember than a whole essay because they always give the same topic but with some twists. In this way, no matter which essay they will give you to write, you will end up writing a good essay for sure.
15. Tips For Regional Language Paper - Knowledge of Regional language of the respective state is a must for Judicial examination. Because Judicial Mains Exams for every state contain a separate paper for regional language of the respective states.
Even in interview you can be asked to speak in the regional
language. So, you must have a very good command over the Regional
language.
If you are a domicile of that state, then it will be easy for you to read and write in the regional language of that state. However if you are not, then it will be a bit difficult for you.
You can buy some regional language learning books to learn some basic about the language. You can use YouTube channels providing regional language lessons to learn it. You can also use few language learning mobile apps which may teach you about the regional language.
Regional language paper of the Mains Exams generally consists of Composition, Essay and Translation from English.
Now the composition portion is not tough at all. Questions are generally asked from synonyms, antonyms, one word substitution etc. Any student with a basic knowledge of regional language can deal with them. Just buy any good grammar books of 10th and 12th standard with solved exercises. Just practice these solved exercises and compare your answer with it.
For essays just try to write at least 2 to 3 essays in a week on important regional topics (like, fairs and festivals of that state, culture of that state etc.) and current topics.
Translation from English is also not tough at all. But Don’t try to make complex sentences. Just make as simple sentences as possible. Complex sentences may take away some marks from you as probabilities of mistakes increases, while simple sentences ensure good marks as the probability of them being correct is more. Remember they have just asked you to frame a sentence and not to show your knowledge about the language.
16.
Relax - When
you have prepared as explained above, just relax at the time of exams. Eat
light food. Enjoy for few moments.
17. Read Questions Carefully At The
Examination - Just read
the question carefully and if needed, read it twice before attempting. They may
be very easy questions with some twist which you can’t recognize at first look.
They will tempt you and force you to commit mistakes. Remember, if you attempt
it wrongly, then it will cost you a negative mark.
18. Don't Try To Write Wrong Answers In The
Examination - Don't
try to make answers for the questions in which you have strong doubt in
Prelims, because it will cost a negative mark of 0.33 marks. (usually)
Even
in mains don't try to include data in the answers, in which you have strong
doubt. If it becomes wrong, it will create a bad impression on the mind of the
examiner. So, try to include only those data in which you have a sound
knowledge.
19. Try Not To Left Any Question In The Mains Examination - Remember, A person getting 6 out of 10 in all 10 questions on an
average is much better than a person getting 8 out of 10 in 7 questions and
leaving remaining three empty. So,
try to answer all the questions in mains. In the exam hall, try to
divide time according to the marks assigned to each question and stuck to
the time limit.
20. Tips For Interview/Viva –
Voce - Basically the purpose
of the interview is not to check your knowledge as the same was thoroughly
tested in the preliminary and mains exam. Interview is all about the
personality check and up to an extent for testing practical skills in applying
the knowledge in a given situation. So, apart from the thorough knowledge
about the current affairs as well as the basic general knowledge, the focus
should be on various important concepts of laws as prescribed under IPC, CPC,
CRPC and Evidence Act. Personal question may also be asked like home
town, your background, academics, work experience, why the Judiciary
etc.
The key to get good score in the interview is to not to panic and be calm and composed during the same. If you don't know the answer of a question just say sorry sir, I don’t know the answer to this question, and wait for the next question to come. If you know the answer of the question then give it confidently, you will surely get good marks in the interview.
Everybody has his own strategy for the exam, here we
have shared some strategies which you may find convenient, but you may make a
better strategy for yourself. You must have some sort of strategy in your mind
to attempt a competitive exam paper and also a backup plan to deal with new
situations that may come as a surprise. Only studies will not get good scores
for you. These strategies will bring a lot of value to your studies. It’s only
the way you deal with exams which gets you through it.
Though it is true that preparation for judicial services is much easier as compared to any other kind of civil services, but one needs to be consistent while making preparations if you really want to succeed. The three tier process of selection at times becomes irritating and monotonous, so one needs to maintain mental peace and calm.
Judicial service exam requires a great hard work and commitment with proper planning and determination. Do away from all kinds of distractions, keep working hard, analyze your mistakes and weaknesses, and learn from them, Success is bound to follow. Best wishes to all.
