How to Choose the Right Optional Subject for UPSC: Tips and Success Stories
Every year lakhs of students prepare to pass the UPSC exam but only a few of them get selected. The main reason behind this is to follow a strong strategy and choose the right optional subject.
When choosing an optional subject, it is important to have its study material easily available. With this, the student can easily pass the UPSC exam by getting good marks. Without any guidance, many aspirants choose the wrong optional subject, due to which they have to face failure.
In this article, we are going to discuss some tips for choosing the right optional subject for UPSC.
Overview of the UPSC Optional Subject Selection Process:
UPSC exam has optional subjects along with the main subjects. The optional subject mainly consists of two papers. Each paper is of 250 marks. Candidates can choose them on the basis of their intelligence and preparation.
Optional subjects include literature subjects, whose language is both English and Hindi. The nature of this subject is descriptive. It has a duration of 3 hours.
The list of these subjects is provided by UPSC. The following subjects are included as optional subjects in this list-
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- History
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Psychology
- Physics
- Psychology
- Political Science and International Relations
- Sociology
- Zoology
- Statistics
- Public Administration
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Optional Subject:
With the help of optional subjects in the UPSC exam, you get good marks. This makes it easier for you to pass the exam. The candidate must pay attention to the following points while choosing the right optional subject.
1. Interest and Passion for the Subject
It is very important for the candidate to be aware of and interested in the subject while choosing the optional subject. The Civil Services Examination is long and time-consuming. For this reason, your passion for the subject will keep motivating you to study it for a long time.
2. Educational Background and Prior Knowledge
While choosing an optional subject, the candidate should choose a subject related to his educational background. Choosing such an optional subject can benefit them immensely.
However, it is not mandatory. Candidates can progress rapidly in the subject already studied. For this reason, choosing a subject related to educational background can be a beneficial option.
3. Scoring Trends and Success Rates
Some optional subjects are considered scoring in the Civil Services Examination. Candidates should not choose such subjects as per their wish. These trends can change with time.
For this, do not select subjects based on old data. Choosing an optional subject that suits your interests will give you good results.
4. Overlap with General Studies (GS)
Some optional subjects like Geography and Public Administration overlap with the GS paper. Which helps in preparation and can reduce the study load. Choosing such subjects can be beneficial for the candidate.
5. Availability of Study Material and Guidance
The optional subject chosen by the candidate also requires the right material and guidance to be available for its study. It is also very important for the candidate to keep this in mind. In the absence of books and experts, the study of such optional subjects may take more time and effort.
6. Time and Effort Required for Each Subject
Some subjects are relatively difficult and require more time and effort to master them. Candidates with time constraints should choose the subject according to their time.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Optional Subject:
Geography
This subject is popular due to its high-scoring potential and overlaps with GS. Its syllabus is simple and logical to understand.
Public Administration
The syllabus of Public Administration is manageable. It provides information about aspects of governance which are suitable for UPSC.
Sociology
Sociology is popular as a simple optional subject. It can also prove to be helpful in the essay.
Anthropology
The syllabus of Anthropology is short. Along with this, the success rate in it is continuously increasing.
Candidates also choose other subjects like Law, Literature, and Medical Science based on their interests and previous educational background. These subjects are chosen according to the personal qualities and career plans of the candidate.
Tips for Selecting the Right Optional Subject:
Self-Assessment
Candidates should assess their interests and compatibility with different subjects. Choose a subject keeping in mind their own ability and interest.
Consult Toppers and Mentors
Candidates should seek guidance from previous successful candidates, mentors, and coaching institutes. The right guidance can strengthen your decision.
Review the Syllabus and Previous Year's Questions
Analyse the syllabus of each subject and previous years’ question papers. This will help you understand the type of questions and you will be able to understand your strengths and weaknesses.
Trial Study Sessions
Do a “trial run” by studying a few topics from different subjects. This will help you understand which subject you are more interested in and comfortable with.
Consider Long-Term Interest and Consistency
Candidates should choose optional subjects that are interesting and can be studied continuously for a long time.
Success Stories: Insights from Past Toppers:
Success Story 1: Toppers interested in Geography and Environment
2024 topper Annapurna Singh chose Geography optional subject with the rank of 99. She was interested in environmental studies. Also, this subject overlapped with GS. This interest helped her understand the subject in depth.
Success Story 2: Engineering background and success in Public Administration:
2024 UPSC topper AIR 1 Aditya Srivastava (IIT-Kanpur) chose Public Administration despite having an engineering background because its syllabus was manageable. This helped him score excellent marks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing an Optional Subject:
Choosing Based Solely on Trends
The subject chosen by the candidate based on popularity can lead to failure. In this situation, the candidate should give priority to his interest.
Neglecting One’s Interest
The candidate should choose the optional subject according to his interest. This enables you to maintain continuity in your preparation.
Ignoring the Availability of Resources
The candidate should choose the resources based on the availability of study material. In this situation, there will be no lack of guidance and it will be easy to achieve success.
Overestimating Past Academic Background
In the Civil Services Examination, more importance should be given to the subjects related to the educational background. This makes it easier to study the optional subject in depth.
Practical Tips for Preparing the Chosen Optional Subject:
Creating a Comprehensive Study Plan
The candidate should create a well-structured plan covering all the topics.
Focused Revision and Answer Writing Practice
Candidates should practise answer writing regularly. This will help you meet the UPSC standards.
Using Diverse Resources
Candidates should study from different sources. This includes online lectures and study groups
Conclusion:
Passing the Civil Services Exam is the dream of many students. For this, they work hard by making the right strategy. Optional subjects play an important role in passing this exam. It helps in getting good marks as well as getting top rank in the Civil Services Exam.
Choosing an optional subject for the UPSC exam is an important decision. It can affect the success of every UPSC aspirant. Make sure that the subject you choose is in line with your personal strengths, interests and preparation strategy.