Choosing the Right Optional Subject for the Civil Services Exam: Insights and Recommendations

The Importance of Choosing Wisely

Choosing the right optional subject for the Civil Services Exam is one of the most important decisions you will make during your preparation journey. This decision can significantly impact your performance in both the Preliminary and Main exams. In my personal experience, I initially selected Medical Science as my optional subject, but later switched to Psychology to better suit my interests and preparation constraints.

Initial Decision: Medical Science

Initially, I chose Medical Science as an optional subject for my first two attempts in preparation. My rationale was that I was already preparing with General Studies (GS) coaching, and time was limited. I did not want to join any additional coaching for the optional subject and thought that Medical Science would be easier because I had some background in it. However, I was wrong. I cleared the Preliminary Exam in 2018, only to realize that it was a monumental mistake to stick with Medical Science.

Advice for Aspirants:

Take your time to choose an optional subject that aligns with your interests and preparation capabilities. Check at least three to four optional subjects you are interested in and filter them based on: How many toppers are from that optional subject? Online review and guidance availability. Quality of coaching and study materials.

Next Choice: Psychology

Immediately after realizing the mistake with Medical Science, I switched to Psychology. I chose Psychology because I found it interesting and had seen that toppers in the field came from diverse backgrounds, including engineering. I thought that since I was a doctor, I could handle the subject. However, the lack of guidance and test material for Psychology proved to be a significant challenge.

Despite my efforts, I failed to prepare adequately and did not perform well. Therefore, my advice to young aspirants is to:

Take time to deliberate on your choices with friends, seniors, and teachers. Go through the syllabus of at least three to four interesting optional subjects. Assess the number of successful toppers from each subject, along with online reviews and guidance. Evaluate the quality of coaching and study materials available for the subject.

The choice of optional subject should be based on the following criteria:

Command over the subject: You should have a deep understanding of the subject to stand out. Deep understanding of the subject is essential: For science, engineering, law, or medical sciences, you should have studied the subject up to the degree level. Availability of books and study materials: Ensure that there is sufficient study material available for the subject. Interest in the subject: You should have a genuine interest in the subject to keep your motivation levels high.

Conclusion

The choice of the optional subject is the single most critical decision in your preparation journey. Make a well-informed decision that aligns with your interests, preparation capabilities, and availability of resources. By following the above advice, you can significantly enhance your chances of success in the Civil Services Exam.