Tips for Choosing the Right Optional Subject For UPSC Exam?

The UPSC exam is considered to be one of the most challenging examinations globally. Clearing the exam, getting into the top services, and being part of different ministries and departments in the Indian government is a dreams for many. It is held for administrative posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. And in pursuit of achieving this dream, many aspirants start preparing for the same. That being said, starting the preparation itself can be an arduous undertaking.

To start the preparation first and foremost thing one needs to understand is the syllabus. Understanding the syllabus is very necessary as it gives you an outline or format on how you should start your preparation.UPSC syllabusis very vast and demands planned trial. Aspirants can check the detailedUPSC Exam syllabusfrom the notification released by UPSC. One also needs to be aware of any changes to the syllabus and be updated about the latest syllabus.

Once you get a clear understanding of the syllabus and the exam pattern, the preparation phase starts. To start off withUPSC exam preparationone needs to choose the mode of preparation i.e whether to adopt the self-study mode or by joining an institute. Once you make a choice, making a proper study plan is very necessary. Even if you join an institute, a self-made study plan which is made according to your strengths and weakness is necessary. For thorough exam preparation, regular practice and consistency too are necessary. A regular practice attempting mock tests, previous year papers, etc. One needs to make his/her basic concepts strong before starting the actual preparation. Therefore, start off with NCERT, and then build on it.

The UPSC Exam is held in 3 phases, i.e. the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the interview. Aspirants who clear the preliminary exam can participate in the main examination, which includes descriptive papers on topics such as English, an optional subject, and an essay. The optional subject, in addition to the general studies papers, is crucial in determining a candidate’s final scores in the examination. Hence, it is vital for candidates to carefully select an optional subject that can assist them in achieving high marks.

Ways to select the best optional subject –

1.Scorablity– When it comes to optional subjects the foremost factor to be considered is scorablity. Check for past data about the most scoring subjects.

2.Self Capability –One should choose a subject according to his or her own skills. For instance subjects like Political Science, History, etc are suitable for aspirants with excellent writing skills. Subjects like Geography, Physics, etc can be suitable for aspirants with great diagrammatic or representation skills.

3.Experience and Background –Aspirants should try to select subjects in which they have prior knowledge or experience. This will help them in scoring high in the optional.

4.Length of Syllabus –One should choose an optional subject that can be completed conveniently. A vast syllabus cannot be completed in a short duration.

5.Accessibility to study material –One should select a subject that has access to maximum study materials such as previous year’s question papers, mock tests, online content, etc.

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