Optional is the one subject all aspirants can choose based on their wishes and interests. Marks scored in optional are crucial to see your name in the final selection. That's why every aspirant needs to score best on optional because that is one subject that is considered a game changer. Most commonly, chemistry is chosen as optional by people with a science background. It is often advisable to choose Chemistry only if you have a good understanding of the subject already. Preparation alone does not secure you a good rank, but an optimum strategy is a thing that will distinguish you from the crowd.

Why choose Chemistry optional?

• Interest:

  The foremost thing to keep in mind is genuine interest in that subject. Chemistry being one of the core subjects of science, a thorough and strategic long-term in depth study that is equivalent to a bachelor’s level is required. So, people who have a good basic knowledge and interest are expected to do well. Those who think they can work on the subject for as long as 4 to 6 months for detailed study can consider studying Chemistry for UPSC.

• Core background:

  Aspirants who have a science background, those who studied Chemistry in high school and have bachelor’s in the field are best suited for Chemistry. Aspirants with bachelor’s in pharmacy, and MBBS degrees are potential aspirants to choose Chemistry as their optional. Since it’s a logical and concept-based subject which requires a lot of time to grasp. Only people with a background in Chemistry can do this subject in time.

Strategies to Prepare Chemistry Optional

No aspirant has ever been successful in UPSC without a good strategy. While your strategy could be different from others you can not go without having one. A planned and structured study is what will give you an edge over others. Strategies could be dynamic according to the needs arising during preparation. So, here are tips on how to choose the best strategy for yourself to ace the exam:

• The potential of scoring Chemistry optional:

  Every optional has a scoring potential as per the previous year’s results, some optional subjects have been the best choice for aspirants to score more in optional. But if you have a background and understanding of Chemistry already you can surpass all the common optional scorers. Chemistry is a conceptual experiment-based subject, it doesn’t have unique viewpoints and angles to its answers. It has fixed answers as per the topics. Moreover, it can save a lot of time when you write your answers in the exam. It will give you extra time to think and analyze your answers and get a better score.

Best Resources

What you study needs to be of the best quality. For subjects like Chemistry which are not chosen very often by aspirants, there is a disadvantage of having fewer resources and few teachers to guide. So before you actually start preparing for Chemistry optional you must find a teacher who could guide you through learning Chemistry either online or in person. Optional is one such subject which requires extensive study compared to other GS subjects. you need to have a teacher and the right resources to study. Listed below are the few most common resources for Chemistry :

• Books For Physical Chemistry

  • Principles of Physical Chemistry By Puri, Sharma, and Pathway
  • Advanced Physical Chemistry By Gurdeep Raj
  • A Textbook of Physical Chemistry – Vol. 4 By Kapoor K L
  • An Introduction To ElectroChemistry By Samuel Glasstone

• Books For Organic Chemistry

  • Advanced Organic Chemistry By Francis A.Carey and Richard J Wothers
  • Organic Chemistry By Clayden, Nick Greeves, and S.Warren
  • Principle of organic synthesis By Norman and Coxon
  • Advanced Organic Chemistry By Reactions, Mechanisms, And Structure

• Books For Inorganic Chemistry

  • Principles of Inorganic Chemistry by Puri, Sharma, and Kalia
  • Concise Inorganic Chemistry By J.D. Lee
  • Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry By Malik, Madan, and Tuli

Conclusion

Optional studies are crucial to preparation for UPSC. Balancing all the subjects together and devising appropriate strategies for yourself is one of the important challenges for every aspirant. Revising from the right resources and finishing your subject on time with conceptual clarity will sail your boat.