This is a preliminary review on the Medical Science papers of UPSC CSE 2019. Today’s paper made one thing very clear. UPSC has not asked from any topic which was too far from the syllabus. The second paper has become a lot specific while the first paper was kept very close to the foundational basics.
Paper 1
Paper 1 had no questions which can be placed outside the syllabus squarely. It had a lot of questions from neurology, neuroscience and sleep physiology. From biochemistry the topics were, the very expected sort. Anatomy also did not disappoint. Pharmacology took a back seat as the choice of questions were set in such a way that no pharmacological question was threatening enough.
Even though this is a paper which had more than 70 percent questions from previous papers, many candidates came out disappointed as most of them failed to manage time and were not satisfied with their own performance.
Time management has become crucial and without writing exams it may be difficult for medical students to move forward anymore. Other optional students, are preparing by writing multiple exams while medical graduates only write exams for general studies, and from the feedback we got from the exam centers this has cost many a lot of marks even when the paper was in the expected lines. Still we hope that some of the toppers may be from medical science this year.
Paper 2
Paper 2 was made a little more specific this year. Most of the questions had many sub questions and this may make the valuation and marking much easier.
This could also fetch adequate marks for those questions for which the candidates have given good answers. Yet even in this paper, finishing the paper in a time bound manner became a difficulty. Many had to jump from one section to another to finish the paper and many came out with the complaint that time ran short.
For a well prepared candidate, this year’s Medical Science question paper should not create a roadblock in success. Yet, as many medical graduates still shun exams and concentrate on making notes, the results have to be seen when they are out.
To say the least, writing model exams have become extremely important
During the past few years many people have moved out of medicine complaining about the vastness of the subject. Yet,it is astonishing that most have appeared for the exam without finishing a complete test series. This is happening when students with other than medicine optionals are writing multiple tests on optional before sitting for the mains exam.
There is a lesson here, and it is,
To finish an exam successfully, you will have to write enough model exams beforehand. Medicine could be your ticket to higher civil services, but only if you treat it with the respect it deserves.
