Tips To Prepare For Sociology in the UPSC Exam

by Elite IAS Academy IAS Academy

Every year lots of candidates apply for UPSC civil services examination. It is really hard to crack the Preliminary exam. Still, the harder one is the Mains. One of the major steps to prepare for Mains is to decide on the optional subject. Although there are several options, the most popular subject is Sociology. Thus, how do you prepare for Sociology Optional and beat your competitors?

The optional subject covers 500 marks out of the aggregate marks allotted to the UPSC exam. Some candidates found that it is not easy to score 300 out of 500.in the optional Sociology subject. But, never get demotivated with these facts. With proper preparatory steps, you will be successful in scoring high.

Create the best Sociology preparation strategy and be a strongest contender in IAS Mains exam. You may also join the best Sociology Coaching in Mukherjee Nagar.

Tips to prepare for the optional UPSC subject- Sociology-

Know the syllabus of Sociology-

Candidates from different educational backgrounds choose Sociology as their optional subject. Sociology may be a new subject to them. That is why candidates must go through the syllabus to prepare for the optional subject. Without knowing the syllabus, you cannot any step for preparation.

You must memorize the Sociology syllabus, and while writing your answers, you may correlate with different topics. The syllabus-wise preparation prevents you from reading anything irrelevant.

Learn about the pattern followed in your optional paper-

Sociology optional deals with two papers-

Paper 1 is relevant to Sociological Thinkers- You need to learn more about Sociological Thinkers and different theories proposed by those thinkers. The UPSC Mains question paper includes several questions from these sections. You must also go through other sociological topics and issues.

Paper 2- It deals with a range of aspects associated with the Indian society. Caste, agrarian social structure, and kinship- everything is related to Indian society. Besides, the syllabus also includes current affairs, case studies, and real-life examples.

Check out the Sociology question paper of previous years-

As you have now learned the exam pattern and syllabus, you need to know the nature and type of sociology questions important for UPSC exam. It is better to use the question bank every time you prepare yourself for the optional Sociology subject. Analyze the previous years’ questions regularly to evaluate your knowledge, understanding, and preparation standard.

When you feel that you have covered the major part of the syllabus, you can try to solve previous years’ questions. Focus on every subtopic and chapter. Some candidates like to do it in the last month of their preparation. However, it is better to check your knowledge without any delay.

Look for question papers of at least 10 to 20 years. Although there are books with model question papers, their answer quality is not good.

Find the best books to study the optional subject- Sociology-

Several candidates rely on IGNOU books and NCERT books to learn about this subject. Make sure that your chosen books have covered the basics of Sociology. At the end of every chapter of these books, you will find answers. Thus, it becomes easy for you to analyze the topic and make preparation.

The best IGNOU books for sociology include almost everything related to your optional paper 1 and 2.But, candidates must be selective in choosing the books for Sociology.

Sociology Paper 2 is highly dynamic, and you may not find several sources to prepare for this paper. Most of the questions in Paper 2 are from current affairs. Moreover, you have to use sociological terms to develop the best content for your answers. But, you will find a connection with other sections of the subject. Try to focus on the relevancy to write better answers.

While writing any answer, you may add information about the latest events in the society. For instance, regionalism, inequalities, poverty, and deprivation are the most commonly chosen topics in Sociology optional. Read daily newspapers, like Indian Express and The Hindu.

Practice writing answers for the optional Sociology subject-

The art of crafting the best answer is highly important for UPSC civil services exam. UPSC does not count your Prelims marks. The total marks include the interview marks and the cumulative Mains exams marks. It determines your rank in the UPSC exam.

Your optional subject (Sociology) is one of the major contributors towards scoring high marks. The marks you have scored will make a difference in the ranking.

Sociology has become a trending optional subject for UPSC candidates. Candidates whose educational backgrounds do not include humanities may find it difficult to understand the subject.

That is why you can look for proper guidance from a IAS Institute. The best trainers will help you understand topics on Sociology. You will have fun from reading the subject.