- Rely on standard textbooks and previous-year papers, not the internet
- No separate notes: solve problems repeatedly and keep formula sheets
- Accuracy and step-by-step working beat speed
- Give Paper II equal rigour, it has become much tougher
Anubhav Singh cleared the exam in his second attempt with a Mathematics score of 181 in Paper I and 194 in Paper II. His preparation was about one focused year, and what stands out is how little he added to the basics.
He treated past papers as the syllabus. Instead of building long notes, he solved the same kinds of problems again and again and kept a compact sheet of formulae for revision. His reasoning: Mathematics is learned by doing, and notes can become a comfortable way of avoiding practice.
He attempted around 230 marks in Paper I and 205 in Paper II, which shows a quality-first approach rather than a race to attempt everything. He also pointed out that Paper II difficulty has risen in recent years, so mechanics, fluid dynamics and rigid dynamics need frequent revision.
On abstract algebra, his advice was practical: unless you have spare time, the return on effort is lower than on other areas. He used a test series mainly to train time management.
Original source: Mrunal.org (this page is our own summary).
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