Is There any Biasness in Optional Scores?

  • In any year, UPSC does not reward or penalise any optional. Every one of the optionals involved is treated equally. Instead, scaling is done at the end to keep the marks of all the optionals consistent.
  • While there are no established standards for excellent grades in optional topics, certain predictions can be made based on the results of the top performers in the Civil Services Exams of the relevant years.
  • Students have been receiving respectable grades in topics like sociology, philosophy, and history for the past few years. In 2015, scores for topics like geography and public administration were on the lower end.
  • There are fewer candidates for science-related jobs; students typically steer clear of these fields because of their extensive course offerings and lack of general advice. However, as evidenced by trends, scores can be extraordinarily high.
  • Social science courses are on the safe side and, if taken seriously, can help students get chosen.

Keep in mind that every year, scoring trends vary. Therefore, don’t opt for an optional based on the scoring pattern. All optionals are equally good. Decision depends on your background and interest areas.

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