1. Aptitude: UPSC vs UP-PCS
  2. UPPCS 2012 Aptitude Paper topic wise breakup
  3. Reasoning
    1. #1: Chart based
    2. #2: Sequence Series
    3. #3: High level reasoning
  4. Maths + DI
    1. Maths internal breakup 2012’s paper
    2. Approach to Mathematics
    3. Data interpretation (DI) internal breakup 2012’s paper
  5. Hindi
  6. English
  7. Interpersonal skills, Communication, Decision Making
    1. UPSC (CSAT) vs UP-PCS: Decision Making Qs.
    2. Approach: D.M, Comm., Interpersonal, Conflict Res
  8. Appendix1: Decision Making  Qs. asked in UP PCS 2012 (Paper II)
    1. Interpersonal relations: 5Qs
    2. Communication theory related
    3. Conflict resolution
    4. Decision making
  9. Appendix II Free Study material UP PCS
    1. Essential softwares (Free)
    2. Maths + DI
    3. Hindi grammar (Foundation course from IGNOU)
    4. Decision Making, Interpersonal relations
  10. Appendix III: Question papers of UP PCS 2012 Prelims exam

Aptitude: UPSC vs UP-PCS

First let’s compare the UPPCS’s aptitude paper with UPSC’s CSAT (preliminary) aptitude paper.
Original papers of 2012’s exam (Both GS and aptitude) given in appendix III @bottom of this article.

UPSC CSAT/IAS-Prelims UP-PCS (Uttar Pradesh)
Since when? Been conducting aptitude paper since 2011. So far three papers conducted

  1. 2011
  2. 2012
  3. 2013
 Since 2012. Only one paper conducted so far (as of May-30-2013)
Total Qs. 80 Qs 100 Qs
Hindi? Doesn’t have exclusive comprehension / grammar Qs from Hindi. It has exclusive questions from both Hindi and English grammar and comprehension.In fact more questions from Hindi

Grammar-comprehension compared to English.
Reasoning Reasoning mostly centered on high level reasoning (syllogism, logical connectives etc.)+ sitting arrangement. Mostly low level reasoning: Sequence, series, odd pair, missing number, direction based test etc.
Nonverbal reasoning (image based questions) = asked. Not yet, Except one dice question.
Maths Difficulty-complexity of math problems higher than UP-PCS Less than UPSC.
Trigonometry, coordinate-geometry, logarithms not asked same
Doesn’t ask direct qs. from basic maths (e.g. surds-indices etc) Asked.for example find value of

(2+root2) + 1/(2+root2) + 1/(2-root2)
Prior to introduction of CSAT (2011), the permutation- combination probability (PCP) used to be hot topic under preliminary GS. But since 2011, these questions are almost vanished. No Qs. from permutation- combination probability although hard to predict whether they’ll ask it in upcoming years or not!
DI Direct question from definition / theory of statistics= Not asked. Asked.for example:

The best way for representing total Expenditure incurred by an industry under different heads is

  1. Bar diagram
  2. Frequency polygon
  3. Pie-chart
  4. Histogram
Decision Making Official syllabus says “Interpersonal skills including communication skills”But asks only situation based / role playing type Decision Making questions.

They don’t ask direct questions from definition /theory

 Official syllabus says

  1. Interpersonal skills including communication skills
  2. Decision making and problem solving

Most questions are directly from definition and theories of communication, Decision Making, conflict resolution etc. (for more Qs, look at appendix-I given @bottom of this article).

UPPCS 2012 Aptitude Paper topic wise breakup

chart-uppcs paper 2-2012

Topic Question asked in 2012’s Paper Comment
Reasoning Logical reasoning and analytical ability. 19 The serious players of SSC/LIC/IBPS/SBI-PO should not have much problem here.(=comment#1)
Maths Elementary Mathematics up to Class X level- Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics. 30
LanguageTotal 37 Qs. Comprehension (Hindi + English) 15 Only 3Qs from English passage and 12 Qs. from Hindi passages=total 15 Qs.
General English upto Class X level. 10 Same as comment#1
General Hindi upto Class X level. 12 I’m from Gujarati Madhyam so not much to comment hahaha.But yes, do solve Class 10 Hindi digest/grammar book for UP State board exam (or atleast the IGNOU’s Hindi foundation material given @bottom).
Decision MakingCommunication

Interpersonal relation

Total 14 Qs.

 Interpersonal skills including communication skills. 13 Most questions based on pub.ad and HRM theory

  1. Org.behaviour
  2. motivation
  3. decision making
  4. communication
Decision making and problem solving. 1 Only one role playing question.
Total 100

Let’s start looking at every section

Reasoning

sitting arrangement 5
Direction based Test 2
Sequence, series, odd pair, missing number 6
clock calendar 2
dice 1
High level reasoning

  • Assertion reasoning
  • statement conclusion etc.
 3
total 19

Since they only conducted one paper, we can’t they’ll continue the same pattern, they might add/exclude some of ^these topics. For example they might add non-verbal reasoning, syllogism or logical connective next time.  Anyways, the minimum preparation should be

#1: Chart based

Sr.No Topic RS Aggarwal Chapter No.
1. Direction Sense Test. 8
2. Sitting arrangement: circular 6
3. Sitting arrangement: rectangle 6
4. Sitting arrangement: “table” based e.g. lecture schedules, job-car-cloth color, building-car-newspaper etc. 6
5. Blood relations 5,6
6. Ranking (not all Qs but persons standing in line etc.) 12

Problem/challenge: in bank/LIC/SSC type exam, they give you one ‘case’ about sitting arrangement and 3-5 questions would follow based on that single case. That means if you can crack one ‘case’, you can get 3-5 marks easily. But here in UP PCS, they’re asking only 1 question per case= lot time consumed. So keep an eye on the watch, don’t get stuck in one question for long.

#2: Sequence Series

Sr.No Topic RS Aggarwal Chapter No.
1. Analogy 2
2. Oddmen out 3 (chapter title is “Classification”)

#3: High level reasoning

Topic RS Aggarwal Chapter No.
Statement assumptions Section II, Ch.2
Syllogism Section II, Ch.1(+ methods explained in www.Mrunal.org/aptitude)
Logical connectives Shortcut formulas given here click me
  • If you have MK Pandey’s reasoning book (part of your SBI PO/CAT/CSAT preparation) I suggest you utilize it as well for High level reasoning (assumption, reasoning, strengthen weaken argument etc) and sitting arrangement type question.
  • After this whatever do remaining reasoning topics as per your time e.g. symbols-math operations, inequalities, data sufficiency, dice, clock, calendar etc.

Maths + DI

If you had serious prepared for the recent SSC/LIC/ SBI-Po, then just brush up the theory and formulas, practice few questions from each category.  This section should not pose much problem.

Maths internal breakup 2012’s paper

Basic maths and algebra surds indices 1
Linear eq (finding age of father son etc.) 5
Number theory (LCM, HCF etc) 2
STD based Time n Work 2
Time, speed distance 1
% based Compound interest 1
Profit loss 1
Avg. averages 4
ratio-allegations 1
Geometry geometry (Theory) 1
Mensuration (area volume perimeter) 2
Misc. Arithmetic progression 1
total 22

Approach to Mathematics

  • First, You must get rid of any inferiority complex or fear of maths that you’ve.
  • If you don’t prepare it, someone else will and then he gets in merit list and you just keep filling up application forms for next exam cycle. The world of competitive exams is merciless.
  • Plenty people – they keep appearing and re-appearing in LIC, IBPS, SSC lekin kidhar bhi number nahi lagtaa. Why? because in most cases, they keep running away from their fear (maths).
  • Their approach to maths= firefighting approach= before the exam, they just ‘read’ sums from some book, mugup a few formulas and think they’re done with maths.
  • Right Approach: clear basic theory / concept from NCERT Maths textbooks (free download links @bottom) and from Mrunal.org/aptitude
  • Then maximum practice from whatever Quantitative aptitude book you’ve: RS Agarwal, Sarvesh Kumar, Rajesh Verma, M.Tyra etc.
  • Merely ‘reading sums’ from some math books or merely mugging up formulas without practice= sureshot strategy for failure.
Topic Subtopics How to approach
Number theory Divisibility, remaindersLCM and HCF

Unknown numbers from given conditiofor

Fractions-comparisions.

 my article explaining the concept of HCF, LCM click meNCERT Class 7 Chap 2, 9 (fraction)

NCERT Class 10 Chap 1 (divisibility)

Finally practice sums from your Quantitative aptitude book.
Basic Maths Simplification (BODMAS) NCERT Class 8 Chap 1
Surds, indices NCERT Class 8 Chap 12Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 1
Roots, squares, Cubes Basics from NCERT Class 8 Chap 6 and 7.
Algebra Linear equation “Mother’s age was x and daughters age..”“3 mangos and 5 bananas purchased for…”

X+1/2x+3=3/8 then find X.

^This type of stuff. Just practice and you’ll get a hang of it.

Basics given in NCERT Class 8 Chap 2 and 9.

Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 4

Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 3.
Quadratic equations, Polynomials Usually not asked in class 1 /  2 officer’s exam. so ignore.But if you want to prepare then

NCERT Class 8 Chap 14

And then NCERT Class 9 Chap 2

Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 4
Avg and Ratios Wine-Water mixture (Alligations) Can be solved without formula. read this article click me
Simple Average Lolz.
Ratio-Proportion-variations For ratio-proportion NCERT Class 8 Chap 13.
Partnership Can be solved without formula. read this article, click me
STD Time speed distanceTrains, platforms

Boats-streams

Time and Work

Pipes and Cisterns

 All of them can be solved with just one Universal STD formula. Explained in various articles of  Mrunal.org/aptitude
Geometry Angles, sides, bisectors, circles etc In State PSC Class 1 / Class 2 officer’s exam very few questions from this arena. don’t put too much time here.NCERT Class 9 Chap 6, 7, 8 and 10. Quantitative aptitude book.
Mensuration (area and volume). Basics explained in NCERT Class 8 Chap 3, 11.Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 9, 12, 13.

Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 13
Trigonometry Usually not asked in State service exams. so ignore.
% Basic % (increase, decrease in consumption, population) NCERT Class 8 Chap 8.
Data-interpretation (DI) Approach separately explained after few paragraphs.
Profit, loss, discount, marked price. Can be easily solved without mugging up any formula IF you read following article click me.
Simple and compound interest rate Can be solved without mugging up any formula IF you read following article click me
Misc. Progression: Arithmetic+ Geometric you just have to plug in the values in formulas. Basics of Arithmetic progression explained in NCERT Class 10 Chap 5.for Geometric progression, class 11’s NCERT chapter 9.
Logerithms Usually not asked in State service exams. So ignore.
Coordinate Geometry Usually not asked in State service exams. So ignore.
PermutationCombination

Probability

 in old times (90s era) this used to be hot topic for both UPSC and State service exams. but nowadays usually ignored. But again, they too can be solved without mugging up formulas: go through various articles on Mrunal.org/aptitude

Data interpretation (DI) internal breakup 2012’s paper

theory/definition based 2
pie chart 2
Venn diagram 4
8
  • Solve DI questions from old papers of SSC (both Tier 1 and 2).
  • Some of these MCQs were based on theory / definitions related to statistics and graphs. For that, study class 11 NCERT statistics book (especially ch3,4 and 5). (free download link @Bottom)

Hindi

Comprehension (3 passages, 4 Qs each) 12
synonym, antonym 4
Sandhi 2
Vyanjan type 1
Idioms and phrases 1
sentence rules (grammar theory, Dhvani Vyavastha etc) 4
24
  • Do the class 10 guide/digest/grammar book from UP State education board. If you’ve nothing, use IGNOU’s foundation course. (free download link @bottom)
  • for practicing comprehension passages, grammar questions, use the old papers of Compulsory Hindi from UPSC Mains exam. (free download links @bottom)

English

Breakup of UP-PSC 2012 paper

Comprehension (English) 3
synonym, antonym 3
sentence transformation 2
active passive 1
direct indirect 1
Fill in the blanks 1
Spelling 1
Idioms and phrases 1
Total 13
  • The approach/strategy for English remains one and same like explained in SSC-CGL article click me
  • for practice of comprehension, synonym/antonym, active-passive etc. solve a few previous papers for SSC-CGL (both tier I and tier II).

Interpersonal skills, Communication, Decision Making

Internal breakup for 2012’s paper

Interpersonal relations 5
communication theory 4
conflict resolution 2
Decision Making

  1. theory based (2Q)
  2. role playing (1Q)
 3
Total 14

Original questions from 2012’s UPPCS paper are given in the appendix 1 @the bottom of this article.

UPSC (CSAT) vs UP-PCS: Decision Making Qs.

UPSC CSAT/IAS-Prelims UP-PCS
Official syllabus says “Interpersonal skills including communication skills” Official syllabus says

  1. Interpersonal skills including communication skills
  2. Decision making and problem solving
Under this topic, All questions are situation based / role playing questions e.g. if you in abc position/situation then what will you do under xyz circumstances/conditions? Only one such role playing question was asked
No direct questions from definitions/theories of communication, leadership, motivation, interpersonal relation etc. Most questions were from definitions of communication, interpersonal relations, conflict resolution etc.
  • Another point to observe is: UPSC already had taken 2011’s aptitude paper before Uttar Pradesh did it in 2012. So, people in UP PCS did know what type of stuff UPSC (IAS) asks under Decision Making –problem solving and interpersonal skills yet they’re running on a different line (asking MCQs from definitions and theories)
  • Meaning it seems to be UP PCS’s conscious decision not to follow UPSC (IAS)’s path for MCQs.

Approach: D.M, Comm., Interpersonal, Conflict Res

  • For theory / definition based question, go through the selective PDF files provided @bottom (they are from IGNOU’s various courses on Public Administration, HRM etc). Donot read each file word by word, just go through important terms / definitions / summary of theories. You just have to tick MCQs, don’t have to write descriptive answers.
  • For role playing / situation based questions, see the last two years’ Decision Making questions from CSAT (UPSC prelims) + their official answers discussed in following articles

Appendix1: Decision Making  Qs. asked in UP PCS 2012 (Paper II)

Interpersonal relations: 5Qs

  1. Which one of the following is not an interpersonal role?
    1. Figurehead
    2. Leader
    3. Liaison
    4. Boss
  2. The one who makes short-term adjustments and long-term structural changes to maintain the equilibrium is called—
    1. Disseminator
    2. Resource allocator
    3. Disturbance handler
    4. Negotiator
  3. Which one of the following refers to the need to associate with others?
    1. Need for inclusion
    2. Need for individuation
    3. Need for control
    4. Need for affection
  4. Which one of the following is the reason for displaying the positive personal signal of leaning forward?
    1. Concentration
    2. Extreme confidence
    3. Taking time to think
    4. Relaxation
  5. Consider the following statements—
  • Assertion (A): Interpersonal roles relate to a person’s behavior that focuses on interpersonal contact.
  • Reason (R): Such roles are derived directly from the authority and status.

Select correct answer

  1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) correctly explains (A)
  2. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
  3. (A) is true, but (R) is false
  4. (A) is false, (R) is true

Communication theory related

  1. Which one of the following is a receiver’s weakness type of barrier to communication?
    1. Ambiguity
    2. Jargon
    3. Time
    4. Prejudice
  2. Which one of the following is not a characteristic of empathic listening?
    1. Putting oneself in the position of a speaker
    2. Being evaluative
    3. Observing body language
    4. Focusing both on feeling and content of the message
  3. principle of KISS in communication stands for
    1. Keep it stylish and subtle
    2. Keep it safe and shaded
    3. Keep it sincere and secret
    4. Keep it short and simple
  4. Match the following
Barriers to Communication Types of Barriers
  1. Vocabulary
  2. Distance
  3. Haste
  4. Noise
  1. Structural
  2. Situational
  3. Circumstantial
  4. Language

Answer codes

Q (a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 4 3 2 1
(B) 3 2 1 4
(C) 2 3 4 1
(D) 4 1 3 2

Conflict resolution

  1. In conflict resolution which one of the following explains the emphasizing of areas of agreement and deemphasizing areas of difference over conflictual issues ?
    1. Withdrawal
    2. Smoothing
    3. Compromising
    4. Confrontation
  2. Which one of the following is known as the avoiding style of conflict resolution?
    1. Satisfying your own needs at the expense of others
    2. Satisfying other’s needs while neglecting your own
    3. Neglecting interest of both parties by postponing a decision
    4. Asking both parties to make sacrifices

Decision making

Theory based Qs.

  1. A manager who is helping a customer return some articles that he purchased earlier is dealing with a—
    1. Programmed decision
    2. Non-programmed decision
    3. Uncertainty
    4. Bounded rationality
  2. Decision making based on the use of subjective experience, self-confidence and self-motivation to process information data refers to:
    1. Intuitive decision making
    2. Rational decision making
    3. Bounded rationality approach
    4. Administrative decision making

Role Playing Qs.

1. You are a Deputy Secretary in a Ministry and dealing with the appointment of Assistants. On the basis of a written examination, 10 candidates have been short-listed for the two posts. Based on their educational and previous work experience you have to make your recommendation in order of preference. A senior official in the Ministry asks you to recommend the name of a candidate Y amongst the first two choices. What will you do?

  1. Bring the matter to the knowledge of your immediate superior officer and do as he verbally directs
  2. Comply to the request of the senior officer who approached you and recommend the name of his candidate in the top two despite knowing that he is not among the best two
  3. Examine the profile of all ten candidates and take decision on merits even if it means that candidate Y is eventually selected
  4. See to it that the candidate Y is not selected at all by placing him down in the preference.

Appendix II Free Study material UP PCS

Essential softwares (Free)

  1. 7-zip (for extracting .7z files)
 http://www.softpedia.com/get/Compression-tools/7-Zip.shtml
  1. Foxit PDF reader (for reading PDF files)
 http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/PDF/Foxit-PDF-Reader.shtml

Maths + DI

All of the NCERT Mathematics available at Mrunal.org/download

Hindi grammar (Foundation course from IGNOU)

Click ME to download Hindi material

Decision Making, Interpersonal relations

Click ME to download the material

  • ^You need 7-zip program to extract it.
  • Donot read each file word by word, just go through important terms / definitions / summary of theories. You just have to tick MCQs, don’t have to write descriptive answers.

Appendix III: Question papers of UP PCS 2012 Prelims exam

  1. Paper 1 General Studies: Click ME
  2. Paper 2 Aptitude: Click ME

And as always, thanks Mr.csl80 for providing inputs.