How to complete UPSC Optional in 3 months?

by

Completing UPSC Optional in just three months sounds unrealistic but it is absolutely possible with the right guidance and strategy. Many aspirants fail to do it because of poor planning, over-reading, and lack of revision. This blog will give you a practical 3-month strategy that surely works.

Girl studying

1. Understand the Objective, before you start

Your goal in 3 months is not perfection, but exam-oriented completeness. Your target is:

  • Covering the entire syllabus
  • Understanding PYQ demand
  • Being able to write decent answers within time

Mastery can come through revision.

2. Divide 3 months into clear phases

Break 90 days into three phases:

Phase 1: Syllabus completion

  • Focus on one paper at a time
  • Finish basic reading+ note making

Phase 2: PYQs+ Answer Practice (Day 51-70)

  • Topic wise PYQ analysis
  • Start writing answers (even if imperfect)

Phase 3: Revision+ Value Addition (Day 71-90)

  • Multiple revisions
  • Diagrams, keywords, examples

3. Smart Syllabus Breakdown

Instead of dividing by books, divide by syllabus topics.

Example:

  • Take one major unit
  • Allocate 4-6 days per unit
  • Smaller topics: 1-2 days

Rule: If a topic has never asked then don’t ignore it rather study it briefly.

4. Study Limited Resources

Don’t rush behind many resources.

Ideal setup:

  • 1 primary book/ notes
  • 1 backup source
  • PYQs (last 20-25 years)

If you already have many books, choose ONE and stick to it. Depth matters more than quantity.

5. Daily Study Structure

A realistic daily plan looks like this:

  • 3–4 hours: New topic study
  • 1 hour: Revision of yesterday’s topic
  • 30–45 min: PYQs / answer planning
  • Total: 5–6 hours daily for optional
6. Make exam-oriented notes only

Your notes should be:

  • Short
  • Bullet based
  • Rich in diagrams, Flowcharts, and keywords

Write only:

  • Definitions
  • Processes
  • Comparisons
  • UPSC friendly examples

7. Weekly revision is mandatory

Every 7th day:

  • Revise everything studied that week
  • Rewrite difficult parts
  • Improve diagrams

Without revision your 3 months of effort are wasted.

Final words : Discipline > Motivation

Finishing optional in 3 months is not about intelligence- what only matters is:

  • Clear planning
  • Limited resources
  • Daily consistency
  • Regular revision

If you follow this strategy honestly, you won’t just finish optional but you’ll be answer-ready.

Also check:

https://examessence.com/ugc-net-december-2025-admit-card-download-link/

Leave a Comment