Overview
The MaargX PSIR Optional Test Series is the Apply and Appreciate personalised mentorship programme for UPSC Political Science and International Relations: 12 tests across three phases, with weekly micro-mentoring and fully flexible dates. It has 8 sectional tests (Tests 1 to 8) and 4 full-length tests (Tests 9 to 12).
Course at a glance
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Total tests | 12: 8 sectional tests and 4 full-length tests |
| Phase 1 | Foundational theory (Tests 1 to 4), covering Paper 1 concepts |
| Phase 2 | Applied Indian polity and current linkages (Tests 5 to 8) |
| Phase 3 | Comprehensive simulation (Tests 9 to 12): full-length tests that integrate theory with International Relations |
| Mentoring | Weekly one-on-one P2P micro-mentoring with detailed evaluation and topic-wise hand-holding |
| Scheduling | A personalised date-wise schedule, with all 12 test dates flexible and personalised rescheduling available |
| Mode | Online and offline, including testing and the weekly mentoring sessions |
The Apply and Appreciate advantage
- Personalised P2P mentoring: weekly Micro-Mentoring sessions give detailed evaluation and topic-wise hand-holding.
- The Examable approach: training focuses strictly on examination needs, in-depth analysis and effective note-making.
- Absolute flexibility: online or offline, with personalised rescheduling of all test dates.
Related courses and resources
For one-to-one guidance, see the PSIR Optional Mentorship. For another optional-subject series, see the Sociology Optional Test Series, and for General Studies practice the GS Mains Test Series.
Test Schedule
Syllabus Map
The 8 sectional tests build from political theory and thought in Phase 1 to Indian polity and contemporary issues in Phase 2.
| Test | Coverage | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Test 1 | Meaning and approaches; theories of the state (liberal, neo-liberal, Marxist, pluralist, feminist, post-colonial) | Core conceptual clarity |
| Test 2 | Justice (Rawls and critiques), equality, rights, democracy, concept of power | Analytical answers and thinkers integration |
| Test 3 | Political ideologies; Western political thought (Plato to Marx) | Ideological comparisons |
| Test 4 | Western thought (Gramsci, Arendt); Indian political thought (Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, Gandhi, Ambedkar) | Interlinking Indian and Western thought |
| Test 5 | Freedom struggle and national movement; making of the Constitution; salient features | Factual-analytical balance |
| Test 6 | Union and state government; judiciary; federalism | Case laws and current relevance (for example, the Basic Structure) |
| Test 7 | Local governance; statutory bodies; planning and economic development | Dynamic linkage of governance and economy |
| Test 8 | Caste, religion, ethnicity; party system; social movements | Highly dynamic, contemporary issues |
Full-Length Tests
Phase 3, the Crucible of Full-Length Integration, has four full-length tests (Tests 9 to 12) that integrate both papers and train structure, interlinking and time management.
| Test | Stage | Coverage | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test 9 | First integration | Paper 1 + Paper 2 (political theory + Indian polity basics) | Structure and time management |
| Test 10 | Advanced linkage | Paper 1 + Paper 2 (thinkers + governance + IR basics) | Interlinking thinkers with current issues |
| Test 11 | Global perspectives | Full syllabus, with emphasis on IR and comparative politics | Advanced answer writing and global examples |
| Test 12 | Final simulation | The complete PSIR syllabus | Complete exam readiness under UPSC-like conditions |
The interlinking architecture
UPSC rewards the ability to connect disparate syllabus modules. Tests 10 and 11 specifically target this by pushing candidates to interlink thinkers with current issues and to apply global examples to comparative politics. The linked modules are Western thinkers, Indian political thought, governance and judiciary, and contemporary international relations.
Paper 1 vs Paper 2
Paper 1 and Paper 2 need different analytical gears: Paper 1 is static-heavy and thinker-based, while Paper 2 is highly dynamic and linked to current events.
| Paper 1 strategy | Paper 2 strategy | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Static-heavy, core conceptual clarity | Highly dynamic, contemporary relevance |
| Key skills | Thinker-based questions, ideological comparisons and tracing the evolution of political thought | Factual-analytical balance, integrating case laws and linking governance with economy |
| The goal | Deep theoretical grounding from Plato to Marx | Applying structural frameworks to modern Indian and global realities |
Mentoring Engine
A continuous five-step engine refines your concepts after every test: take the test, get a detailed analysis, join a micro-mentoring session, update your strategy and apply it in the next test.
- Take a flexible test: complete sectional or full-length papers on your own timeline, online or offline.
- Receive detailed analysis: structured, written feedback on structure, depth and presentation.
- Engage in P2P micro-mentoring: weekly, personalised, faculty-led sessions to deconstruct the feedback.
- Update your personalised strategy: hand-holding to adjust notes and frameworks based on mentor insights.
- Apply and appreciate: bring refined techniques into the next test, appreciating the nuanced demands of the UPSC format.
Distilling the vast syllabus
Mentorship acts as a filter that removes the noise of endless reading lists, overlapping theories and redundant current affairs. The result is highly targeted notes, ready-to-use analytical frameworks and prioritised content tailored strictly to UPSC examination needs.
Standard vs Ours
The programme replaces the traditional test-series model with a personalised one: flexible schedules, weekly 1-on-1 mentoring, a filtered syllabus and detailed evaluation.
| Area | Standard series | The Apply and Appreciate approach |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Rigid dates, generic pacing | Personalised, date-wise schedules built around candidate availability, with total flexibility |
| Mentorship | Generalised, bulk feedback | Weekly 1-on-1 P2P (peer-to-peer) micro-mentoring |
| Curriculum | Unfiltered syllabus dump | The Examable approach: learning limited strictly to examination needs |
| Evaluation | Write-and-forget | Regular discussion, detailed analysis and personalised evaluation |
Flexibility
The series is built entirely around your availability and learning pace: you get a personalised schedule when you join, and all 12 test dates stay flexible.
- Personalised strategy formulation: every candidate receives an individualised, date-wise schedule tailored to their needs upon joining.
- Absolute scheduling flexibility: personalised rescheduling ensures your preparation is never derailed by life events.
- Omnichannel access: the programme, including testing and weekly micro-mentoring sessions with faculty, is available both online and offline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MaargX PSIR Optional Test Series?
It is the Apply and Appreciate personalised mentorship programme for UPSC Political Science and International Relations. It has 12 tests (8 sectional and 4 full-length) across three phases, with weekly micro-mentoring and flexible dates.
How are the 12 tests divided?
Phase 1 (Tests 1 to 4) covers foundational theory, Phase 2 (Tests 5 to 8) covers applied Indian polity and current linkages, and Phase 3 (Tests 9 to 12) has four full-length integration tests. Tests 1 to 8 are sectional and Tests 9 to 12 are full-length.
What does Phase 1 cover?
It covers theories of the state, justice, equality, rights, democracy, power, political ideologies, Western political thought from Plato to Marx, Gramsci and Arendt, and Indian political thought including Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, Gandhi and Ambedkar.
What does Phase 2 cover?
It covers the freedom struggle, the making of the Constitution, Union and state government, the judiciary, federalism, local governance, statutory bodies, planning and economic development, caste, religion, ethnicity, the party system and social movements.
What happens in the full-length tests?
Tests 9 and 10 integrate Paper 1 and Paper 2, Test 11 covers the full syllabus with emphasis on IR and comparative politics, and Test 12 is a final simulation of the complete PSIR syllabus under UPSC-like conditions.
What is the interlinking approach?
UPSC rewards connecting different syllabus modules. Tests 10 and 11 push candidates to link thinkers with current issues and to apply global examples to comparative politics.
What is the Examable approach?
It limits learning strictly to examination needs, with in-depth analysis and effective note-making, so the vast syllabus becomes targeted notes, analytical frameworks and prioritised content.
What mentoring is included?
Every week there are one-on-one P2P micro-mentoring sessions with faculty, with detailed evaluation and topic-wise hand-holding. Each test also gets a written analysis and regular discussion.
Can I reschedule tests, and is the programme online or offline?
All 12 test dates are flexible with personalised rescheduling. The programme, including testing and the weekly mentoring sessions, is available in both online and offline modes.
How can I enrol?
Use the Explore Course / Enroll Now button at the top of this page, or call MaargX UPSC on +91-7877885089 or write to contact@maargxupsc.com.
