Loksewa Experience: Conducting My Own Examinations
Author: Tikaram Dhakal, Under Secretary
I completed my SLC from a community school in Vidyapur VDC, Surkhet. Throughout my school years, I consistently secured the first position. In the SLC, I ranked among the top 10 in my district. I pursued a master’s degree in public administration. In 2067 BS (2010 CE), I decided to appear for the Public Service Commission (PSC) exam for the Section Officer post while working as a teacher. Despite limited time due to my teaching job, I prepared for about three months and succeeded in my first attempt, securing the top position in my batch. After seven years as a Section Officer, I passed the open competitive exam for Under Secretary last year with about four months of dedicated preparation. So far, I have appeared in only two PSC exams.
My Loksewa Preparation Style
I avoided rote memorization during my preparation. Many students memorize points, statistics, and formulas, but memorizing books makes it difficult to pass the PSC exam. My first step was to thoroughly study and understand the syllabus for the post I was targeting. Only then did I begin collecting relevant reference materials, ensuring I gathered at least two or more sources for each topic.
After collecting materials, I studied each syllabus topic and made detailed notes. I would read the reference material once while creating notes and then rely solely on those notes for further study. I also noted key points from experts’ television interviews, discussions with friends, and articles from newspapers and magazines. From these, I created concise secondary notes, focusing on the core essence of each topic. These notes became the backbone of my preparation.
Conducting Mock PSC Exams at Home
By reading books, making notes, and creating concise secondary notes, much of my exam preparation was already complete. I practiced solving past PSC question papers and model questions within a strict three-hour time limit, simulating the actual exam environment with discipline. I ensured I answered every question within the allotted time, checking my responses against my notes and reference materials to self-evaluate and assign marks. This process helped me identify and correct weaknesses from previous practice sessions. Practicing under time constraints honed my ability to manage time effectively, ensuring I faced no issues in the actual exam hall.
Loksewa Preparation Classes
I appeared for the Section Officer exam once and the Under Secretary exam once, succeeding in both on my first attempt. For the Section Officer exam, I secured the top position in my batch, and for the Under Secretary exam, I passed through open competition the previous year. I did not attend any PSC preparation classes for either exam.
Preparing for General Knowledge
Since my school days, I participated in quiz competitions, which gave me a strong foundation in general knowledge. I recalled facts studied earlier and prepared for general knowledge with minimal effort. Comparing statistics with related topics and contexts made retention easier and more effective.
In the Examination Hall
Many students, despite thorough preparation, fail due to mistakes in the exam hall. I have seen friends with extensive knowledge and experience struggle to pass the PSC exam because they couldn’t manage the three-hour time limit. Some write excessively on certain questions, leaving insufficient time for others, resulting in incomplete answers.
My practice of conducting mock exams at home eliminated these issues. Even during my first PSC exam, I felt no fear or stress. I purchased answer sheets similar to those used in the PSC exam and practiced solving model questions multiple times within three hours. This made me adept at time management and structuring answers, ensuring no difficulties in the exam hall. I knew exactly how many minutes to allocate to each question, which streamlined my performance.
