Selfstudyhistory.com’s Interview of Nausheen [Rank 9, CSE- 2023, History Optional]

Profile of the Candidate

Introduction

(1) Tell us something about yourself. 

I have done my schooling from Ratna Memorial Public School, Gorakhpur. I did B.A.(hons.) History from SGTB Khalsa College, DU. I have been staying in Jamia Residential Coaching Academy since Nov 2021.

 I like playing Chess. Also, I have a keen interest in multilingual music (especially from Coke Studio). In addition to this, I like watching sci-fi series a lot.

Questions Related to History Optional

(2) Why did you choose history as your optional subject?

1. Graduation in History.
2. I didn’t want to experiment with an altogether new subject.

(3) Kindly mention positive and negative about the History Optional for those who want to take history optional.

1. Positives: Overlapping topics with GS papers (GS1 : History and Art and Culture, GS2: International Relation, etc); Development of critical mindset; Questions are static in nature, however there is a lot of scope of adding Current Affairs esp. in World History sections.
2. Negatives: Lengthy syllabus; Map sites are difficult to memorize; Lot of misconceptions in the market that history optional doesn’t fetch marks (which adds to stress).

(4) Kindly mention the booklist and sources which you followed for History Optional.

1. Ancient: A History of Ancient and Medieval India by Upinder Singh, Old NCERT, selfstudyhistory solved PYQs.
2. Medieval: History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra, some sections from Baliyan Sir notes, Old NCERT, College notes, selfstudyhistory solved PYQs.
3. Modern: From Plassey to Partition by Shekhar Bandopadhyay, Shruti Sharma (AIR 1, CSE’2021) notes.
4. World: selfstudyhistory solved PYQs, Chat GPT for organizing some of my notes (cross checked the answers provided by it very well); Vision IAS PT 365 of IR for adding some current affairs.

(5) In Paper I and II, you answered 3 questions from Part A or Part B?

Paper 1:  3 questions from Part A;

Paper 2: 3 questions from Part B.

(6) How did you prepare for Map Portion?

Relied completely on Selfstudyhistory map material.

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

Since this was my 4th attempt, therefore, I can only tell about the time given after prelims. I used to give an equal number of hours to GS and optional.(4 hours)+ 1 hr Mapping.

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

No, I started it religiously after CSE’2023 Prelims. However, I had kept it in my mind that I should be thorough with my notes properly even though it required compromising on answer writing.

(9) Did you join any test series? If yes, kindly name it? How did it benefit you?

2020 (first attempt): History Test Series of GS Score. (no proper feedback or  model answers)

2021(second attempt) : History optional test series of selfstudyhistory (useful, very good model answers)

2023 (4th attempt): Level Up Test series of History Optional due to their association with Zakat Foundation of India.( good questions but wrote only one test because no model answers were provided by them)

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

Yes, very useful for revision, especially the final 20-30 pages notes of all sections.

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

Yes, I would say it was the most useful thing during the entire examination process.

(12) In your views,  has the nature of questions asked in history optional changed in recent years?

Questions of History Optional have shifted from factual to analytical right from 2015 itself. Presently, it is demanding some innovation( like Current Affairs, Diagrams, Maps) and historiography (in some questions).

(13) Were you asked questions related to History in interview? If yes, kindly mention those.

Yes,

Transcript

Date: 18th of Jan 2024

Board: BB Swain Sir.

Time: forenoon (4th one to go)

DAF keywords: History optional and B.A (hons.) history; Kushinagar (my parents place); Multilingual music appreciation; Visiting historical places;

Chairperson: Make yourself comfortable.

You have a very interesting hobby, I have not seen this in any of the DAFs. (Multilingual music appreciation) What does it mean?

Which languages have you heard? K-pop? You know these people charge a lot for a video call!

What was the common factor in all the songs that you have heard?

M1:

– Which period of history do you like the most? Why?

– Which event in Indian independence between 1857 and 1957, according to you was the most significant?

– Asked about Kushinagar.( Parents place) Its Significance.

– What did you learn from Buddha? And how did you apply it in your life?

– What did you learn from music? How did you apply it in your life?

– What infrastructural changes would you like to suggest for improvement of Kushinagar as tourist destination?

M2

– What is multilingual music?

– History is becoming obsolete? Why should we study it?

– Utility of History in administrative services.

– One site other than the most common ones in Delhi to visit like Red fort, Qutub Minar.  ( I mentioned Tughlaqabad fort)

– Then he asked why Mohd Bin Tughlaq not mentioned in a good light?

– Do you hear Hindustani classical music?

M3:

– Are you comfortable? What can we do to make you comfortable? (I said you people already are very supportive) then he said, this is not going to give you extra marks remember that.😂

– Patliputra was the center of many kingdoms, Why did it become Bimaru later?

– As you belong to the juncture of UP and Bihar, what common factors are inhibiting their growth?

M4 :

– Name of famous cuisines? All of them come from places of civilizations. What was the common factor in all these ancient civilizations?

– 3 events that shaped world history.

– 2 events that you would like to change if you were given a time machine?

Chairperson: Thankyou , your interview is over.

(14) How did selfstudyhistory.com benefitted you in your History Optional Preparation?

A lot, the best thing about this source is that they are updating it regularly.

Also, I personally know people who prepare their model answers and they really work very hard to make it the best in the market.

(15) Any specific thing you want to share about history optional?

• Don’t pay heed to noise around you that it is difficult to score good in this optional. Make your own strategy and stick to it, you will score well.
• Map section is not as important as it appears to be. I got only 14-15 questions correct, yet scored 166 which is the highest ever in Paper 1 (as per my knowledge). So, give your time accordingly.

Click here for answer sheet of Nausheen [Rank 9, CSE- 2023, History Optional]