Exam experience

I am preparing for UPSC Exam (just out of my interest). My preparation has not reached the satisfactory level. Since I am working I could not put much effort on the preparation and till last week I was worried about my job. Just one week before my prelims I got confirmation regarding my job. So, I had one week to prepare. But because of office work I wasted that time also. Preliminary exam for Civil Services was held on May 17th. On May 16th (Saturday) I thought of not appearing for exam since I had to go office on that day too. In the evening, we started DJ in our hostel room. Till 1'oclock in the morning of May 17th (Prelims was on that day) we had DJ. After that I saw my hall ticket and felt guilty. Finally I decided to write exam.My roommate Priya gave me pencil, eraser and sharpener which were required for exam. I had pens.
Exam was to be commenced from 9:30 to 11:30 and 2:30 to 4:30. Morning session was of optional subject. In Prelims, aspirants can choose one subject from number of options as his/her optional. I took Indian History as my optional. Afternoon session was of General Studies which contains questions regarding almost all subjects or sections. My exam center was at Abids and I am staying in Madhapur. So, I had to leave at 8'o clock and I had to reach there half an hour before exam as per the instructions in hall ticket. I started in bus which was going to Koti and I was so worried whether I could make it to sit 4 hrs in the Examination Hall since last night I did'nt sleep well. I thought of coming back in the afternoon without writing General Stidies Exam if I feel uneasy.
I reached the examination hall i hour before the exam. I thought,'Oh, My God! I has to wait for one hour in that hot sun'. I was looking for somebody whom I could talk and spedn 3 hrs between the Optional and General Studies exams. Luckily one girl came to me and asked where is the list of roll no.s and the room no.s allotted. I told her the answer and started to talk with her. She also came alone. Many aspirants came along with their parents or brothers. I wonder how the parents can wait till 4:30. We are atleast writing the exam and it is our exam. But they had to wait doing nothing in that hot sun. (On that day climate was very hot.) At 9'o clock school authority allowed us into the rooms allotted to us. The girl I mentioned above(her name is Bindu from UP) took Physics as her optional so she went to another room. I told her to wait till I come so that we can stick together for another 3 hrs before the second exam. At 9:20 invigilator gave us OMR sheet i.e answer sheet. (The Preliminary exam contains only objective type of questions). At 9:30 she gave question paper but told us not to start answering till they sadid to do so. At around 9:35-9:40 invigilators allowed us to start the exam. The exam paper seemed to be easy for me if I had read my notes thoroughly. But I didn't read so I could not write well. But I answered almost all questions (negative marking is there) half an hour before the time. At 11:35 invigilator took answer sheets from us and we left the room. Bindu was waiting for me outside the hall.
We came outside and sat infront of the school for one hour. We got bored and went to Mc Donalds so that we can sit in AC. We ordered and it took almost one hour for our order to come. We thought its for our good only since we still have 2 hrs for second exam. We discussed many things and I came to know that Physics paper was also easy and logical. At 1:30 we came out of Mac D and went to school. We went inside the school and sat in the examination hall. Morning there was no pwer in the hall because of maintenance problem in school. By afternoon it was fixed and they switched on main. But fan was far from me so the room was so hot for me. At 2:35 we started the exam. General Studies paper was tough. I answered almost all the questions (answers that I thought would be fit for the questions) except 5 or6. At 4:30 exam was over. Bindu and I went to Koti. She said good bye to me. I bought fruits in Koti and returned to Madhapur at 6'o clock.
This was my experience of UPSC exam. No body should prepare like me for UPSC exam. Strong determination, hard work, intelligence and little bit of luck are needed to through this exam. I decided to prepare well for my second attempt in the next coming year. Friends wish me all the best :-).