#Anthropology #optional How to select questions in optional | Shubham Kumar: Strategy and Notes for UPSC(CSE)

#Anthropology #optional

How to select questions in optional paper

I used to devote 6-8 minutes in deciding which all questions I’m going to attempt

1) Firstly see whether you have enough knowledge on that topic or not. It is most important

2)Secondly, See whether you know value additions for those questions or not. Like - thinkers and case studies

3) Know your strength and attempt more questions in that area. I used to attempt more questions from tribal part in paper 2. UPSC don’t have any biases on the type of questions that you attempt

4) If you have to choose between 2 questions where you have similar knowledge on both then

Attempt those question which you feel that this will make your paper DIFFERENT and UNIQUE. In this situation, you CAN attempt those question where you feel that others will attempt less. It will make your paper appear different.
But REMEMBER to follow above 3 steps first.

5) when you have to choose between questions where you don’t know some questions well in that (eg Q6 and Q8) (every ques has 3 ques)

Based upon your knowledge assign marks. For example- if you know well any question with 3/4 thinkers then assign 60% marks. Accordingly lesser marks where you don’t know well

And then choose that question where you are scoring higher in total (after adding marks of all 3)

All the best and good night !!