I will also list out problems
1. Main issue is feedback system ; unlike Prelims where one can see the pattern of his/her mistakes easily and can check by himself/herself , we have to largely depend on others in Mains . My mistake was depending on tests for this , Instead programs like TLP of daily writing 5 questions is much better as feedback loop is short
2. Considering value addition as a luxury , not necessity
3. As others pointed out , not rattafying the topics like NHRC etc ;Though I wrote on it before exam , I just wrote same points which i Wrote in test there too =>Did not rote learn them
4. Optional
4.1 I hate my optional since i find it lengthy
4.2 Map part daily takes my 1 hour yet Somehow I score low in map portion
4.3 To be honest, I did not focus much on rote learning terminologies which needs to be done + time period + Historians (Though these points are considered as value addition but I think they are necessity given sheer competition)
5. Post - Prelims fatigue is too much for me somehow ( I study lot less post prelims )
6. Not reading newspaper ->Reading newspaper always pays , I still remember many news articles which I had read at start of my attempts rather than magazines in last 2 mains
7. Can anyone please suggest how to balance a length , low -return optional with GS ; Any tips are highly appreciated . Due to some reasons, I cannot skip attempt and have to continue with attempt and not change optional