IFS/IFoS – How to choose optional?

Choosing optional is quite a tricky part for IFS/IFoS, But I would try to simplify the choices. Some of criteria that are crucial in determining choice of optional are-

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject
2. Availability of books for subject
3. length of syllabus
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject
5. Comfort ability with subject
6. Success rate of subject

And for those, even if above points don’t hold good and still you want to choose an optional, then still you can go ahead provided you have a belief that particular subject can be completed by you.

So, All optional are analyzed based on above criteria-

• Agriculture

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject-Fair to good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the national universities teach it.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is short to moderate in length.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available, but coaching are very few
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the most successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,with lot of Agriculture graduates making it to final list, even many of non agri graduates make it to final list.

Only con of this Optional, may be, is you have to compete with agriculture graduates/pg/phds.

• Agricultural Engineering

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject-Fair to good.
2. Availability of books for subject-difficult to procure from market.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is  moderate in length.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-very less amount of guidance is available, also coaching are very few.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the average successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination

• Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject-Fair to good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Fairly available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the national universities teach it.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to long in length.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Fair amount of guidance is available, but coaching are very few
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the fairly successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination .

Only con of this Optional, may be, is you have to compete with agriculture and veterinary professionals.

• Botany

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Good to very good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the national universities teach it.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available, some coaching are also available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the most successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,with lot of Botany/Zoology graduates making it to final list.

Only con of this Optional, may be, is you have to compete with Botany/Zoology graduates/pg/phds.

• Chemistry

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– average to Good .
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the national universities teach it.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is  lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available, some coaching are also available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the fairly successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,with some of  graduates making it to final list.

Only con of this Optional, may be, is you have to compete with established graduates/pg/phds.

• Chemical Engineering

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Fair
2. Availability of books for subject-Fairly available in market,  its very well established subject but material to procure is bit a difficult.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-poor amount of guidance is available, NO coaching is  available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the less successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination

• Civil Engineering

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Good to very good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the national universities teach it.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available, some coaching is also available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the most successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,with lot of Civil Engineers making it to final list.

• Forestry

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Fair to very good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject for IFS/IFoS preparation.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is short and can be completed quickly.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available, some coaching are also available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the most successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,with lot of graduates making it to final list.

Only con of this Optional, may be, is that it is like pub ad/ geography of civil services, it may be butchered any day.

• Geology

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Fair to good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Poorly available in market, its very well established subject but right books are difficult to procure.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Fair amount of guidance is available, almost no coaching is  available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the fairly successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,as a lot of people with Geography take it and hence large number most of aspirants make it to final list.

Only con of this Optional, is that along with forestry combo, you need some luck also to clear this Examination.

• Mathematics

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Good to Excellent.
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and almost all of the national universities teach it.
3. length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject– Very Good amount of guidance is available, some coaching are also available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the most successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,with lot of Engineers making it to final list.

• Mechanical Engineering

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Good .
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the national universities teach it.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the fairly successful subject in IFS/IFoS .

• Physics

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Fair to very good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the national universities teach it.
3. Length of syllabus-Syllabus is lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available, some coaching are also available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the fairly successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,witha lot of Botany/Zoology graduates making it to final list.

• Statistics

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– No idea.
2. Availability of books for subject-Fairly available in market
3. length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Fair amount of guidance is available ,because of institute like ISI and DU/ JNU.
5.  Success rate of subject-Can’t comment

Con of this Optional, is lack of guidance and lack of successful toppers.

• Zoology

1. Marks Fetching ability of subject– Good to very good.
2. Availability of books for subject-Readily available in market, as its very well established subject and most of the National Universities teach it.
3. length of syllabus-Syllabus is moderate to lengthy.
4. Availability of coaching/ guidance for subject-Good amount of guidance is available, some coaching are also available.
5. Success rate of subject-It is one of the most successful subject in IFS/IFoS examination ,with lot of Botany/Zoology graduates making it to final list.

Only con of this Optional, may be, is you have to compete with Botany/Zoology graduates/pg/Phds.

Inputs from: Vipul Pandey (IFoS 2015)