upsc-exams/upsc-exam-india-civil-services-ias-optional-selections-faq-part-5

FAQ on Optional Subject Selection-Part-6

I want to take Maths and Medical Science as my optional subject.

It is really a rare combination medical person opting for maths. It is really interesting. As you have stated that you are comfortable with maths and can give long quality working hours. In our opinion, medical science is the best among all optionals. The success ratio also 1:3. This is highest among all optionals. After 2001, syllabus change maths becomes really tough and tough. Even IITians don't go for this optional. So, you have to revisit your decision. Please go through the previous years questions and try to solve it. If you can perform it well, you can go ahead. If you find it difficult, follow one of the following optionals. Anthropology / Psychology / Sociology. Normally medicos go with medical sciences and one of the above.

I have completed diploma in optometry (3yrs) and I received a certificate from FOREC. I have also done my fellowship (1yr) from. Am I eligible to appear for CSE?

Diploma may not be taken as a degree. You have to have a degree to appear for the exam. Even diploma holders in Engineering do AIME to write civil services. You can do a degree in an arts subject, which will be easy for you. There are Institutes giving course / degree in one sitting exam also.

Can we opt management as a subject for prelims?

No. It is an optional in the Mains only.

I have done B.Sc Medical and MSc Biotechnology. I am thinking of taking botany and zoology as optionals. How do you rank NCERT books regarding these subjects?

You can go ahead but NCERT books are for basics only. They are really good.

I am not comfortable in writing essay. Please suggest the way to improve.

Practice marks perfection. If you go through the previous year questions, you will get an idea. Normally the essay covers all spheres of General studies like, society, Women, current Affairs, science etc. One has to have good writing skills and to know correlating facts. The UPSC tests a person's writing skills, diction, presentation, facts & figures, arguing capacity discussion, problem solving etc. So, the essay should have introduction, body of contents and good conclusion. There are books available in the market, which may give small tips but you have to have your originality.

Please suggest the topics to be prepared for general essay paper or any books for reading.

There are books in the market for Essay preparation. But these books can be taken as an guide and that is not the entire spectrum of essay preparation. Normally these topics are based on some theme and it should be supported with the latest trends. For example, there is a topic on Women Empowerment, the question may be any form i.e. direct/ indirect/twisted/inferred. Here one should synthesize his/her thought and how to go about/present about. If you read the tips given in the book, you will get some idea. Essay writing is not memorizing something and vomiting in the exam hall. One should give proper and sufficient examples for his/her arguments. These supporting points will not be available in one place. This has to be consolidated with lots of reading. This will not come overnight. So, Essay doesn't need any special preparation. If you are preparing the General Studies well, that is more than enough. Essay is nothing but consolidating the facts and figures studied in the General Studies, present it in a cohesive and orderly manner. In the Essays, not only the base knowledge of a person is tested but also synthesizing power, presentation skills, coherence of thoughts, argumentative power with supporting facts, diction etc.

On what topics should one concentrate while preparing for essay?

The essay is a test of ones world view and orientation in life besides ones ability to express things in clear perspective. One should not cram /mugup topics for the essay but try to develop a holistice view about isssues in life and ones surrounding as a educated and socially conscious youth of India would.

I am a computer engineer & currently pursuing my MBA from the top Business school in India. I am planning to take CS examination in 2010. I plan to opt public administration & pschology as my optional subjects. Kindly compare psychology with Geography. Kindly also let me know the best subject for prelims among public ad, pschology & geography.

Your choice is fine. Public Administration and Psychology are really doing well. The success ratio of Public Administration is about 1:14. Psychology is about 1:6 and Geography is 1:10 All three subjects are popular optionals. It is opted by the candidates from different streams of Educational background. For Public Administration, one should have good command over Language. This will be little useful in the General Science Preparation. One can score 350 plus in the mains if he/she do it well. Psychology needs an understanding and logical conclusion. So, one should have good understanding of theories and its application and inferences. It also needs relatively good command over Language. It is also scoring. As for as Geography is concerned, it is little easy compared to above two subjects. If one does the map reading well, score will be high. It is useful in the General studies paper also

Please give some reference books for Bengali compulsory paper for CSE (mains)

There is no special book for language, compulsory paper. The questions are Matriculation standard only. But it covers all the classes from 6th to 10th. You can just glance through the State Bengali Language Text book.

I am a student of MBA with specialization in HR and I am graduate in B.Sc.(M). I want to appear for CSE. Please Guide me. Please also help me in choosing the best study material.

The details about the Preparation and tips are available on the book. First go through the details of model notification and scheme of Examination. Then select the optional subjects for the Prelims and Mains. Once you are clear with it, go to the strategy for preparation given in many online resources. Follow the steps given in it. As you are a Maths and Management person, you can think of taking Management as one of the optional subjects. If you are not confident in Management, you can think of taking Public Administration as a first optional. If you are strong in any Indian Literature, you can opt for that Literature as a second optional. Otherwise, you can think of taking one of the following as a second optional. i.e Geography (you may opt this as a first optional also)/ Sociology/ Psychology/ Anthropology (If you have interest in Genetics, evolution etc). Above all, you should go through the detailed syllabus and previous years' questions papers and your interest towards the subject. If you decide the optionals based on the above facts, it will be easy for your Success in the Civil Services Exam. For the preparation strategy, read the tips given in many online sites.

I am a software engineer working in a top notch s/w products company. I did B.Tech in Electronics & Communications branch. I have planned to go for History & Geography.

Both History and Geography are fine but you have to consider the following before going for these two.

1. Both has vast syllabus

2. Both are useful in General studies

3. Both exams ( in the mains ) will be back to back or just two days gap.

4. Approach to both the subjects are different.

5. Both are general and popular optionals, it is easy to read. But Geography will be little tougher ( Physical Geography ) than History.

6. Geography is better scoring than History.

7. Past years shows, the success ratio of Geography is three times higher than History.

8. One has to have good analytical capacity to give Scientific approach to arts subject like History.

As far as Correspondence course is concerned, History has more outlets than Geography. But we suggest you to go through the previous years questions and come to a Conclusion. Other subject for optional may be Public Administration/ Sociology/ Psychology.

I am in the first year BA (History) from Distance education. I also work in night shift (8-4) for an IT company. How should I prepare that I build up my base strongly because I want to clear CSE the very year I become a graduate. Also, I wish to choose Geography as an optional subject. Is it the right choice though it is not on my BA course? How should I begin, right from the timetable to the study doses? I am even ready to give up my job for the preparation. How should I prepare for civil services exams?

You have not mentioned your age. You are still in the first year of degree (History). History & Geography as optional, are good, but taxing due to the vast syllabus and these two exams will follow each other just after General Studies exams. If you can manage revision without any time gap for your before the exams, it is fine; Otherwise you may think of taking some other optional like Psychology/Sociology or one of the Indian literatures you are well versed with. Regarding the job, don't leave it at any time because Civil services exams are highly uncertain. If you clear Prelims, you can take three months leave for the Mains preparations, you can even take one month leave for the prelims. Regarding time management, it is difficult as you have odd duty hours. It is only you who can decide about the time management - like how many hours for rest, entertainment, and other core activities. Keep your priorities on top and design a time table and follow it sincerely. Don't waste your holidays. On what basis candidates will be selected for mains through prelims if one subject say (geography) opted by more people and other subject by less people what will criterion for selection There are many theories we heard from different sources. There are two methods it is highly possible. 1. Proportionate method 2. Normalization / standardization method In the proportional method, for example, the total selection to be made is about 10,000 out of 3,00,00 students means.1:30 will be the selection. i. e. one out 30 candidates in every subject will be selected irrespective of their score. In the second theory, one optional (highest appearance) will be taken as a standard optional and the scores of this optional kept as it is. Then the score of other optionals are normalized / standardized with that optional. For example, the top mark of the standard optional is 270/300 means. One optionals top score is 250/300 then it will be equaled with that score of 270. If any another optional score is 290/300 means. The score is bought down to 270/300. Then the score of General studies is added to it. Then final ranking is given. UPSC is saying this selection process, as secret one. So, nobody knows the reality except the UPSC's Exam department. In our opinion the second process is the standard one. But whatever the process, one should be in top among his/her own optional holders.

I am in 2 nd year MBBS. I have studied in Kannada medium upto 10th std, so i am weak in English Speaking .But I am interested in science subjects. what are optionals suited for me.

Don't worry. There are people who study in Vernacular medium till 12th standard and directly enter college (professional degrees like yours) in English medium. Believe in yourself, you can improve English: 1.Follow some standard English newspaper 2.Listen to All Indian Radio New and spotlight regularly. 3.Always try to speak in English with friends 4.Try to speak / open discussion in English in your class also Initially, you may be committing mistakes. Don't worry about. Within some period, you will cope up the situation. You can go with medical Sciences and Psychology / Sociology / Anthropology.