Hello folks,
I had taken an optional( Mathematics ) purely based on interest. My feel, had been, since it encompass topics taught in bachelors/masters, depth needs to be covered.
Over the time, 3 mains after, i feel i have digressed from my initial belief. I have solved past year questions, solved whatever standard preparation is required. Questions were fairly straightforward in past years, hence, i never had any doubt on my preparation.
But as UPSC has it, it constantly pushes its limits - setting questions from unasked regions, tricky ones, beyond standard books. That's when i realised, that i have learnt to solve questions, but i have not understood the basics behind it.
Following the topper's guide, i believe, gave me enough idea/methods to solve a problem. But i miss the mental picture of the concepts, the intuitions behind concepts. My faults are re-inforced when i tried to solve various questions from university / entrance exam papers related to a topic.
Given, the cyclic process of this exam, i have scanty time left to clear my concepts. I am really in a fix whether to stick or leave this optional. Now, is it only me or folks( with other optionals ) too face such dilemma ? If yes, how do you plan to cope with it ? If no, do you think, i am overthinking and needs to switch optional ?
@RonWeasley 2018, it was P1 - 84 , P2 - 71 ( P1 and P2 syllabus was incomplete ). 2019, It was P1 - 106, P2 - 82 ( Last topic Fluid was incomplete and some topics here and there ). 2020 year was a complete preparation, covering all standard sources, but i failed to finish the paper.
@Omen Not many tests i could write in time bound manner. I looked at questions and tried to solve it, but not as mocks tests. Yes, i too feel the same about huge scope of improvement .
But, i felt i am lacking the confidence to face unconventional papers. Krishna series books on most topics helps in solving questions. But, i think i am not getting clarity of thought on topics like real analysis, modern algebra, complex analysis, vector calculus. Analytic Geometry, ODE, PDE, LPP, NA & CP is by far okay to me.
