In the (Union Public Service Commission) UPSC Mains examination, General Studies (GS) and the Optional Subject are two important parts. General studies (GS) papers assess a broad range of subjects like geography, history, polity, and economics. On the other side, optional subjects allow aspirants to specialize in a subject of their choice, like anthropology, sociology, or literature. Both are crucial for civil services exam success, with GS providing a foundational understanding and the optional subject offering potential scoring benefits. GS and optional subjects are important from an examination perspective, but finding the sweet spot between them is usually difficult.
However, in the attempt to clear the examination, some candidates fully devote themselves to the optional subject because of the temptation of scoring high, which in turn results in the GS paper being ignored. There is also the opposite problem where candidates over-focus on General Studies, assuming it has a higher value, leading to the complete neglect of the optional subject. A blend of adopting both of these strategies can create a performance imbalance. The results are usually not very favorable, and such candidates are left with very little adaptability. What is true for all individual learners is that each student needs to devote adequate attention to all the subjects if they wish to perform well.
How to Manage GS and Optional Subject: A Step-by-Step Guide
Any successful candidate or mentor will tell you that it is essential to maintain a balance between the GS Paper (General Studies) and optional subjects. The UPSC Mains exam comprises two optional papers and four GS Papers. The danger of shooting in the dark and playing seesaw with GS papers and optional subjects is both tempting and risky because no matter how well you perform on the proposed subjects, the general subjects will heavily influence your overall ranking. The same logic works in the opposite direction: if your performance on one of the optional subject papers is mediocre, an outstanding performance on a general studies paper will not redeem you.
Explore how to manage GS and optional subjects. This dedicated balancing guide, in seven simple steps, will enhance the chances of your success.
Step 1: Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern
Let’s first review the syllabus and exam pattern before delving into the strategy for preparation.
General Studies (GS): The areas covered under the General Studies (GS) Paper include polity, economy, environment, geography, history, science & technology, and even current affairs. You have to cover a lot and stay up-to-date on current issues. Moreover, the general studies papers have a dynamic component requiring the examinee to understand concepts and apply them in real-world situations.
Optional Subject: In contrast, with the optional subject, there is a bit more depth of specialisation. It is a topic you pick based on your preference or field of study. It is very important to get the details of the syllabus, understand it well and prepare for it in a tailored manner.
Step 2: Set Clear, Measurable Goals
Setting measurable goals is essential to avoid the endless cycle of diversifying GS and optional preparation. Here’s a more focused approach to structuring your work with UPSC online course:
Daily Goals: Scheduling blocks of time each day will help you attend to GS and the optional subject. You may consider spending 3 hours on GS and 2 hours on the optional paper each day.
Weekly Goals: Stipulate a target benchmark for both GS and the optional subject at the end of the week. This will allow progress evaluation for both items, revealing imbalance and disproportionality.
Monthly Review: Devise a problem-solving method month to month. If you find yourself assigning more time to a certain subject, redistribute the time on other subjects. The most vital factor remains attaining synchronisation. Consistent effort enables steady progress, which fulfils the requirement in all areas.
Step 3: Make the Most of Interlinking GS and Optional Subject Preparation
You do not need to treat your GS and optional subject preparation as completely distinct parts. There is plenty of room for combined study that can make your preparation more efficient. For example, if you are doing Political Science & International Relations (Optional), it covers part of GS Paper II (Polity, International Relations). Also, Geography as an optional subject strongly relates to GS Paper I (Geography). With regard to several topics under the optional subject of economics, there is an overlap with GS Paper III. These synergies present an opportunity to consolidate learning relating to both GS and optional papers with minimal duplication of effort.
Step 4: Time Management- The Art of Scheduling
Utilising time efficiently is a critical factor for any and every UPSC aspiring individual since managing time is a challenge in itself. With the broadened syllabus of both GS and optional subjects, however, an effective time management technique is very beneficial. The use of the right time management scheme guarantees that both GS and the optional subjects are given their due consideration. One of the most efficient strategies is the Pomodoro Technique. Using Pomodoro Technique is an efficient framework where you allow yourself to study for 25 minutes and take a break of five minutes. Doing this keeps your mind engaged and prevents brewing of stress and allows room for relaxation.
For instance, polity or history demand a time-bound study routine. Dedicating the 1-2 morning hours of the day can help get an edge. Mid-morning is best allocated towards the optional subject for around 2-3 hours to cover it in its entirety. Sharpen your focus in the afternoon to get yourself after lunch into current affairs for UPSC. In the evening, sessions include revision work with a change in focus between GS and optional subjects.
Set aside time for your mock tests and answer writing sessions. These efforts will help in developing your accuracy, your presentation skills, and especially in the General Studies papers and the optional subjects, which require all three of these elements.
Step 5: Active Revision and Answer Writing Practice
Real advancement for both GS and the optional paper stems from continual revision. The ever-evolving scope of current affairs makes it imperative to revise. Also, make it a point to practice answer writing so that you learn to express your knowledge in a clear, concise, and systematic manner. Furthermore, cultivate the practice of writing 2-3 answers a day based on the syllabus. Advanced distinct marking techniques should be used on maps, flowcharts, and even diagrams. Optional subject answer writing practice is even more important because this is where a candidate has the opportunity to earn maximum marks.
Regularly write answers for specialised topics while considering the examiner's point of view. When preparing for a technical or scientific optional (like Engineering, Anthropology, Geography), answer and explain using clear and structured diagrams and conceptual maps.
Step 6: Take Breaks and Stay Healthy
When preparing for both General Studies and an optional subject, self-care often takes a backseat. But taking care of oneself both mentally and physically is extremely important when it comes to all the rigorous preparation work. Take part in some kind of movement, even brisk walking or yoga. It improves your focus while relieving stress. Make sure you get sufficient sleep (7-8 hours). A refreshed mind works best. Keep a healthy diet routine, which will help your cognitive performance with nutritious food. Make sure to include omega-3-rich foods, greens, and proteins. A rest and relaxation period of 2-3 hours should be observed during which the mind should be disengaged from any form of mentally taxing material.
Step 7: Seek Guidance and Stay Motivated
You might, at some point, feel overloaded with the concepts for both General Studies and the optional subject coaching. It is best to turn toward your teachers and classmates for help or use online platforms that offer mentorship. Talking about problems or their solutions helps in resolving ambiguities and strengthens your grasp on the subject.
The journey to clearing UPSC is quite exhaustive, and focus on keeping yourself motivated. You can use reaping the benefits as an incentive to keep moving forward, so instead of focusing on long-term rewards, break down the journey into smaller tasks and reward yourself after accomplishing them. This includes but is not limited to completing textbook chapters, understanding complex topics, or performing well in a mock test.
Conclusion: Balance is the Key to Success
The UPSC preparation journey requires an all-encompassing strategy. It is evident that managing a balance between both the optional subject and GS subjects is what creates success, and not focusing on just one. Each hour dedicated to GS is useful for the optional subject and the other way around as well. Your effort in answer writing, maintaining good health, revisions, and effective time management allows the attainment of success in optional subjects and general studies (GS) papers.
Thus, as it is often the case, consistency makes the difference. Spending time daily on both the optional subjects and GS paper ensures unhindered progress and substantial improvements towards mastery of UPSC CSE.