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Desirous to become an IAS? - (Part - VI)-
In the last section we saw about how negative marks are calculated. The negative marking is not a new method. It is already present in exams like GATE, GMAT, IIT, JEE, AIEEE and other exams. Negative marking is in practice to prevent the students from attempting the question that they are not sure of.
But, if you know that out of the four answers given two answers are wrong, then there is a 50% chance to select one correct answer out of the two. In such a situation the question can be attempted. It is even correct to attempt if you are sure that anyone of the four given answers is wrong. It is good to avoid answering when even one wrong answer cannot be identified among the four given answers.
Methods to select the subjects:
In order to obtain good marks, sometimes confusion arises in the selection of the right subject.
1. Preliminary exams
You must have studied one subject comprehensively in the Science or Arts Degree course. So, that subject can be selected. If you are not interested in the subject you studied during your degree course, you can select a new subject. However, it is essential to avoid selecting science subjects if you belong to the arts group. But, those who belong to science group can select subjects related to arts group like History, Political science, General Administration, and Sociology according to their capability.
1. Main Exams
In the Main exams, it is essential to select two subjects - Optional 1 and Optional2.
You can select the subject opted for Preliminary exams as Optional 1 and must be careful in the selections of the second Optional. It is necessary to consider your interest and the availability of books in the selected subject.
Those who are interested in mother tongue; it is good to select that subject as the second Optional subject. It is also easy to understand the mother tongue subject.
Work books are available for subjects like History, Sociology, Political Science, and General Administration in the training centers at Chennai, Hydrabad, and Delhi. Students interested in subjects like Psychology and Geography can select them.
You can plan your Optional exams in the following way:
Preliminary exams
Main Exams
Optional subject –1
Optional subject –2
Degree obtained subject
Degree obtained subject
Mother tongue
Or
Degree obtained subject
Degree obtained subject
History / Political science / General Administration
Or
Degree obtained subject
Degree obtained subject
Psychology / Geography
The selection of subjects should be your choice. Do not yield to the compulsion of friends or relatives, choose some subject and later on, go in search of secondary materials related to the subject. You must have deep interest in the newly preferred subject, to score better marks than those who have completed their Undergraduation and Postgraduation in a specific subject.
We will see about the ‘Interview’ in the next section.
