It can be risky to select an optional subject. There are numerous guidelines for selecting an optional subject for the UPSC civil services test. As a general guideline, you should choose a subject in which you are knowledgeable and have a sincere interest. If you have a degree in mathematics and enjoy studying the subject, choosing it as your UPSC optional subject can be a good decision. This page covers everything you need about the Mathematics Optional UPSC Strategy.
Mathematics Optional UPSC Strategy: Preparation Tips
The Mathematics Optional Strategy UPSC preparation tips are as follows:
- Your high school math instructor was correct when she emphasised how crucial practice is to get good grades on your arithmetic tests. Although it’s crucial for every UPSC civil services exam, the math paper places an even greater emphasis on response writing. You get more efficient at solving problems as you practise.
- Be careful not to make stupid errors like forgetting a plus or minus sign, copying numbers incorrectly, or making basic addition or subtraction mistakes. They can be quite expensive. until you are flawless, practise
- Consider a challenge carefully. Note the information provided in the question. Next, step-by-step, calculate the solution.
- Line by line, carefully explain your answers.
- Always comprehend the subject. Never attempt to memorise the procedure. In mathematics, it is invalid.
- Never attempt to solve a problem until you have fully understood the question. When you begin writing an inaccurate response, you waste valuable space in the question-answer booklet. Even if you subsequently realise you need to revise your response, you might be unable to do so due to a lack of space.
- A formula sheet should always be ready and carried with you. This will assist you in memorising some of the formulas needed to answer the puzzles.
- Always approach mathematical difficulties calmly. You can perform poorly on your UPSC optional paper due to uncertainty brought on by panic.
Mathematics Optional UPSC Strategy: Advantages
The advantages of the UPSC Mathematics Optional Strategy are as follows:
- Whether for the UPSC exams or any other exam, math has always been a subject that scores well. You will undoubtedly earn excellent scores if you study thoroughly and correctly fill out the answers.
- The majority of the questions on this exam are drawn directly from the textbooks. The questions should be easy to medium hard for any competent math graduate.
- Compared to topics like history or sociology, which are more popular among UPSC applicants, your competition is less intense in this option.
- Some topics, like the humanities, are always subject to subjectivity due to the examiner’s biases. Two examiners could assign different grades to the identical response. But this is not the case with mathematics, a precise science. Either the response is correct or incorrect. You can, therefore, quite easily determine how you did following the exam.
- This subject’s curriculum is set in stone. That has nothing to do with contemporary events. Therefore, once you have finished the syllabus, you only need to review it; you do not need to update your knowledge constantly.
Mathematics Optional UPSC Strategy: Disadvantages
The disadvantages of the UPSC Mathematics Optional Strategy are as follows:
- It is impossible to learn mathematics by simply reading the study materials. Always have a pen and paper nearby while studying. Only by figuring out the solutions can you prepare for math. Paul Halmos, a mathematician, stated, “doing mathematics is the only way to understand mathematics.”
- Because the syllabuses for history, geography, politics, and other subjects do not overlap, studying math will not help you prepare for general studies.
- As was previously mentioned, there are only right and bad solutions in mathematics. In general, crazy attempts won’t get you any points. You can only anticipate receiving credit for trying if your proposed solution is in the right direction.
Mathematics Optional UPSC Strategy: List Of Books
The list of books for the UPSC Mathematics Optional Strategy are as follows:
- Linear Algebra: A.R.Vasista, Schaum Series
- Calculus and Real Analysis: S.C Malik and Savita Arora, Shanti Narayana
- 3-D Geometry: P.N. Chatterjee
- Ordinary Differential Equations: M.D. Raisinghania, Ian Sneddon
- Vector Analysis: A.R.Vasista, Schaum Series
- Algebra: Joseph A. Gallian, Shramik Sen Upadhayay
- Complex Analysis: Schaum Series, J.N. Sharma, Ponnu Swami, G K Ranganath
- Linear Programming: Shanti Swarup, Kanti Swarup, S D Sharma
- Numerical Analysis: Jain and Iyengar, K. Shankar Rao, S. S. Sastry
- Computer Programming: Raja Raman
- Dynamics & Statics: A.R.Vasista, M. Ray
- Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics: M.D. Raisinghania, R.K. Gupta, J.K. Goyal and K.P. Gupta, Azaroff Leonid
Mathematics Optional UPSC Strategy: FAQs
Only if you are knowledgeable in the university-level ideas of math or have a math degree should you choose math as an optional subject for the UPSC.
The preparation tips for taking Mathematics as optional in UPSC are mentioned in the article.
Only if you are knowledgeable in the university-level ideas of math or have a math degree should you choose math as an optional subject for the UPSC.
The advantages and disadvantages of taking Mathematics as optional in UPSC are mentioned elaborately in the article.
Indeed, high achievers and top students choose this as an optional subject.