After two unsuccessful attempts (both mains, 2017,2018) with geography as optional, i am thinking about changing optional. Not that my GS is good, it was terrible but i dont see how i can clear this exam with geography in such a tight competition.
One huge disadvantage i found in geography is the uncertainities -
1. The paper (so dynamic 2nd paper, it cant be solved without enough practice before hand)...
2. The test series guys take f*cking 15-20 days to give one solved paper. (I feel, the same paper if i give it to 4 centers, i give 4 different reviews)
3. I dont think i am the guy who can make it to 300+ in humanities
Why Maths?
1. I am from technical background (IITM Aerospace dual) - i feel atleast 40% of the syllabus i learnt in engineering
2. I am planning to write CAT, GATE (try to get psu job), IFoS(with maths optional) - if every thing fail i go try for some phd (maths will always help me, geography does not)
3. I dont need any guy/coaching to check my papers. (I can myself know what is right and wrong - i am so tired of this in geography)
4. If this clicks i want that extra 30-40 marks in optional as a buffer if my gs is okayish (f*cking answer writing skills)
Guys, please help me.. I am noob to this optional... Dos and Donts.. what is the right strategy if i have to try clearing it this time 2019 (i know i have like very less time.. ill still try)
Comments
but only thing people may not know is excellence required in maths optional to score above 300.
i took around 2 years(approx.) to get above 300 mark and i will not say everyone take same time to excel. but i can say that maths optional needs more time than geo as i have my friend with geo optional
With respect to Geography. i lost almost all hope that i can do above 280. This attempt will anyway be wasted if i go on with geography, i thought so why not i go do that with maths.
2 years is long, But i will work hard. Also, I can write other exams with this decision i think after writing mains (this thought can be naive but i plan to do so). If it wont work 2020 cse (my 4th attempt) should be good (if i am like you - almost 2 years). If i still fail, i'll go for other career options.
the biggest positive point of maths is if you master this optional, there is no way looking back.. very reliable
all the best
I was told to first finish the ims series of 19 books which is exhaustive but should mostly set me up for finishing syllabus. What do you think? will getting it from xerox shop is good or from the institute (regarding quality of material)?
If this is not a good way of preparing. suggest me something else please.
Word of caution: I can assure you that 40 percent of syllabus is not from engineering unless you have taken lot of extra credits in maths. And even the ones that you may cover normally in engineering are easy topics which don't take that much of the time. Even assuming you covered 40 percent already, the rest 60 percent of which you have not covered will surely take 4-5 months as they are harder.
You can refer to this blogr maths http://atul1994.blogspot.com/ . This covers almost everything. Read it thoroughly. I think this is one of the best guides for maths that I found. My observations:
1) No matter how intelligent you are , there are some questions for which method to solve needs to be partly mugged up as it's very tricky and non- intuitive. But these are only for few topics like in Hydrostatics etc.
2) Covering the basic ( easy parts) of syllabus won't take that much of a time. But then, you have to decide how thoroughly you want to finish the syllabus.Because the final few topics of some chapters are pretty hard. We have choice anyway and can take bit of risk. Why take risk and not complete everything, you may ask? It's because topics take too long to complete and you may feel at the end of the day and it's better to study GS etc. Examples Hydrodynamics, modern algebra, and parts of mechanics.
3) But on the other hand, if you complete everything and the paper comes hard like in 2016, 2017 - you have chance to score exceptionally high marks like 330+. But at the same time, your effort may not yield any results if paper comes easy like in 2018,2015,2014 where you can leave questions from this topic as choice and you may feel that you studied so hard for those tough topics in maths without any final benfit.
4) Most important thing about maths is revision. It takes quite a bit of time to revise it again after prelims which may eat a lot into GS preparation time. Some people have spent almost half the time on maths. I can say for sure you GS marks will be affected.
5) And, there is no point in studying those things which you feel you may not be able to reproduce in the exam.
6) While studying any topic, get previous years questions so that you know what kind of questions are asked and you don't waste time on useless unimportant things.
7) Don't be too discouraged if a topic takes too much time. Depending on previous years questions and probability makes a conscious, calculated decision whether to cover it or not. But of course, if you have no time constraint at all, then covering the entire syllabus gives you a significant advantage over non- science optional students.
Lastly be prepared to spend almost 6 months with most of the time devoted to maths if you want to cover entire syllabus. It may take little longer or less depending on your prior knowledge and your aptitude in maths.
@Cantera @Rango pls advise