Selfstudyhistory.com’s interview of Raj (Rank- 433/ CSE-2018) [History Optional]

Profile of the Candidate

Marksheet

Questions Related to History Optional

Why did you choose history as your optional subject?

Convenience as well as Interest.

Convenience because it helps in GS Paper 1.

Mention positive and negative about the History Optional for those who what to take history optional.

Positives of History Optional-

1. Helps In Prelims and Mains GS Paper 1
2. Important for other state level exams.
3. repetition of questions in mains at least 40 % questions.
4. Availability of materials.

Negatives of History Optional-

1. Too lenghty Syllabus
2. Average scoring subject

Mention booklist and sources which you followed for History Optional.

Mention Booklist and other sources-

• Hemant Jha sir class notes
• Selfstudyhistory question bank with solution
• Selfstudyhistory test series
• Selfstudyhistory gist of books
• Books –
  • Shekhar Bandhopadhyay Partition to Plassey,
  • Bipin Chandra- Struggle of Independence,
  • Ignou- Medieval India,
  • Ancient India- Upinder singh,
  • World History- Norman lowe

But overall Hemant jha sir notes and selfstudyhistory material will be enough.

How did you prepare for Map Portion?

from Selfstudyhistory.com

How did you prepare History for Prelims and Interview?

History for prelims:

1. Modern India from spectrum
2. Culture from Singhania book and ccrt
3. Some selected topics of Ancient but not much focus on Medieval

History for Interview:

1. Prepare Mauryan history for students especially from Bihar
2. Subaltern history
3. Focus on Historiography
4. History related to you place of birth, education, work etc.

How much time per day you used to give the history optional during your preparation (both before and after prelims)?

It took long time. But its better to complete History before prelims. And keep revising After prelims.

Did you do answer writing regularly? If yes, what amount of time you devoted to it and how did it help you?

Its better to do answer writing. I did it from selfstudyhistory.com test series. At least per day five questions should be.

Did you maintain self-notes? If yes, how did it help you?

I couldn’t do it but took help from Hemant Jha sir notes.

Have you solved previous years papers of history optional? Did it help you in the examination?

Yes. it helps a lot. At least 30-40% questions will be repeated in one form or another. I took help from Selfstudyhistoy.com question bank.

In your views, how the nature of questions asked in history optional changed in recent years?

Nature of Questions asked in UPSC exam- more from socio, cultural, economic aspects of questions.

It’s better to do more preparation in Medieval India for Paper 1 and Modern India In Paper 2.

Did you take any help from selfstudyhistory.com? If yes, upto what extent it helped you.

Yes.

1. Test series
2. Question bank
3. Map
4. Personal guidance on any topic on phone
5. Gist of books

Any specific thing you want to share about history optional?

1. It’s good for interview also because there will be definitely questions asked from history.
2. Try to discuss history subject with your friends- it helps in developing interest and will be easier to remember facts.
3. Don’t worry for facts. It’s better to understand History.