text: how to prepare for civil services main exam with chemistry & hindi as as optionals, please suggest in detail?   there is too much to do in this case.  get the syllabus and go on hunt for material. you have to start from first getting proper material for these two subjects. to get good material you may want to take help of some good book stalls or coaching colleges. once you material then would suggest go through the books, mark relevant portion as per subject and do a basic reading of the books. after that depending on how much you can spend, go for classroom coaching either to individual teacher or coaching college.  keep your self updated with what all is happening, practice, study, revise, write and take mock tests.