- Struggle with a problem first; read the solution afterwards
- Do not avoid abstract algebra, questions come regularly
- Start mechanics and fluid dynamics early and revise often
- Always attempt the solvable parts of a multi-part question
Utsav Kaushal secured AIR 14 in 2016 with 356 out of 500 in the optional. He recommends Mathematics to people with an engineering or maths background, calling it a scoring optional if you commit.
His core idea is independence. Work through each problem yourself before reading the solution, because exam-hall confidence comes from having been stuck and found a way out.
For coordinate geometry he suggests systematic practice from a structured text such as P. N. Chatterjee's Analytic Geometry. He also advises starting dynamics and statics early, even though they feel familiar from school, so they are not left for a last-minute rush.
In the exam, do not abandon a whole question because one part looks hard. Attempt whichever parts you can solve: every mark counts. Calculus theory can wait until the rest is solid since it is time-hungry.
Original source: BYJU'S IAS (this page is our own summary).
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