People use PYQs as tests, then report marks like 150-114; coaching adds them to note

[Kanchan]

[Daksha]

Enough is enough, brother. We should be considered as 70-80 marks candidates.

[Vikas]

These are PYQs; they naturally appear in the paper. PYQs give a false sense of confidence because you already know most of the questions. So students should not treat PYQs as a test, just go through them.

[Payal]

Are these the marks you got while attempting PYQs?

[Usha]

Confidence stays, but haha.

[Kiran]

Coaching institutes design their study material and lectures around these PYQs. After reading them you feel like you have already done the exam, but UPSC often throws surprise elements. When faced with them in the exam hall, especially for first‑timers, it can cause panic and even good questions may go off track.

[Niraj]

What many miss when they use PYQs as a test is that they treat the score as their actual performance. Instead, they should do them as practice to get familiar with UPSC language, spot hints and practise the tricks they have learned.

[Niraj]

The problem is they try to flex here by saying they didn't score well but still show a net score of 133.

[Varunesh]

I scored above 120 while attempting both the 2024 and 2025 prelims papers. But I haven't crossed 80 in more than half of my mock tests. PYQ answerability means nothing.

[Madhav]

Brother, whose topper's trick are you copying?

[Saritha]

So true! Yesterday I had a breakdown because people are claiming 150 marks in PYQs, while I'm only in the 80-100 range.