- Choose Maths for interest and comfort, not because someone else scored well
- Expect 6 to 7 months for the syllabus, 7 to 8 if Maths is new to you
- Self-study is enough with good notes and reference books
- Test yourself first: study ODE or LPP for 2 to 3 weeks
Kanishak Kataria secured Rank 1 in 2018 with 361 out of 500 in Mathematics. His post starts with a warning: judge your own strengths before copying anyone's plan, and pick only the pointers that fit you.
He lists the plus points honestly: a fixed syllabus, marks that tend to improve with attempts, readily available reference material and a good run of 330+ scores. The minus points are just as honest: it is long, risky because scores swing to extremes, and has no overlap with General Studies.
He busts four myths. Scaling cannot be controlled, and it hurts low scorers more than high ones. The syllabus does not need nine months for everyone. External guidance is not essential. And it is not like JEE: expect theory, proofs and abstract topics like rings and fields.
His decision came from aptitude and prior comfort with topics such as linear algebra, ODE, numerical analysis and LPP. He set a target of 350+ in Maths early and then planned his GS and essay effort around it, working backwards from the total score he needed. He admits this is a high-risk, high-reward approach that not everyone can afford.
Original source: Demystify CSE (archive) (this page is our own summary).
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