UPSC Optional Subject Marks Analysis

Here is every optional subject in my dataset ranked by average total marks (written + interview):

Mathematics tops the table — consistently high scores across 8 profiles. But look at the Anthropology row: the lowest score is 638 (Mayur Hazarika, AIR 5, 2022). That rank 5 has a lower total than most rank 100+ candidates. Optional alone does not tell the full story.

Also notice: sample sizes range from 2 (Law) to 9 (PSIR). The averages for Geology, Philosophy, and Law are based on very few profiles and could shift significantly with more data.

If you look at the highest single score per optional:

Mathematics has both the highest average AND the highest single score in the dataset. But PSIR and Sociology also produce top-tier totals in the 1030 range. The ceiling is high across several optionals — not just one.

This is the question I was most curious about. Here is the average GS total (GS1+GS2+GS3+GS4) by optional:

The order stays roughly the same. Optionals with higher GS scores also have higher optional scores. This suggests that the candidate's overall preparation quality matters more than any specific optional advantage.

The finding that surprised me: Toppers who scored 130+ in any GS paper did NOT have significantly higher optional marks than those who scored 100-110 in GS. The correlation between GS performance and optional performance is weaker than I expected. You can be great at GS and average in your optional, or great at your optional and average in GS.

This matters because a lot of aspirants worry that choosing a "non-scoring" optional will drag down their GS prep. The data does not support that fear.

PSIR, Mathematics, and Anthropology make up nearly half the dataset. This is not because they are better optionals — it is because more toppers in the rank bracket I have data for happen to have chosen them. The sample is skewed by who cleared the exam, not by a controlled experiment.

I want to be upfront about what this data can and cannot tell you:

What it can tell you:

• Which optionals produced the highest average scores in this specific set of 50+ toppers
• The range of scores within each optional
• Whether GS performance correlates with optional choice

What it cannot tell you:

• Which optional is "best" for you personally
• How you will perform in any given optional
• The success rate of each optional (I do not have fail data, only pass data)
• The number of total candidates who chose each optional (I only have the ones who made it)

Sample size warning: Some optionals (Law, Geology) have fewer than 5 profiles. Their averages should be treated as indicative, not definitive.

The best way to use this data: cross-reference it with your own aptitude, interest, and the syllabus of each optional. Do not pick Mathematics just because it averages 1012 — pick it if you are good at math and enjoy it.

If you want the full details on how I extract and verify this data, read the data methodology page.

Quick summary:

• Every mark on this page was manually extracted from UPSC's official result PDFs
• I cross-check each entry against the original PDF
• Optional subject info comes from topper interviews, DAF disclosures, or coaching records
• This dataset grows with every UPSC result cycle

Found an error? Hit the Report button on any topper profile or reach out through the contact page.