Answer:

Introduction:
When preparing for the Economics Optional paper in the UPSC exam, many students are often confused about whether they should complete the entire syllabus before attempting mock tests. In this response, we will discuss the importance of completing the syllabus before attempting mock tests and provide detailed reasons to support the argument.

Importance of completing the syllabus:
1. Conceptual Clarity: Completing the syllabus allows students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject. It helps in building a strong foundation of concepts, theories, and principles in economics. This is crucial as it allows students to approach questions from different perspectives, thereby enhancing their problem-solving skills.

2. Topic Familiarity: Completing the syllabus ensures that students are familiar with all the topics and sub-topics in economics. This is important because the UPSC exam can cover a wide range of topics, and having a good understanding of each topic increases the chances of scoring well in the exam.

3. Confidence Building: Completing the syllabus gives students the confidence to attempt mock tests. It helps them overcome the fear of unknown topics and ensures that they are well-prepared to tackle any question that may come their way. This confidence is crucial in performing well in the mock tests and the actual exam.

Benefits of attempting mock tests after completing the syllabus:
1. Exam Simulation: Mock tests simulate the actual exam environment, allowing students to get a feel of the exam pattern, time constraints, and the pressure of the real exam. This helps in familiarizing students with the exam conditions and reduces exam anxiety.

2. Identifying Weak Areas: Attempting mock tests after completing the syllabus helps students identify their weak areas. It allows them to analyze their performance in different topics and identify the areas that require further improvement. This helps in developing a targeted study plan for revision.

3. Time Management: Mock tests help students improve their time management skills. By attempting mock tests, students can practice answering questions within the given time frame. This helps in developing a strategy to allocate time to different sections of the paper and prioritize questions accordingly.

4. Assessing Preparedness: Mock tests provide an opportunity for students to assess their level of preparedness for the actual exam. By analyzing their performance in mock tests, students can gauge their strengths and weaknesses, and make necessary adjustments in their study plan.

Conclusion:
While attempting mock tests is beneficial for UPSC aspirants preparing for the Economics Optional paper, it is important to complete the entire syllabus before doing so. Completing the syllabus provides a strong foundation and conceptual clarity, which are essential for performing well in the mock tests and the actual exam. Mock tests, on the other hand, help in simulating the exam environment, identifying weak areas, improving time management skills, and assessing preparedness. Therefore, a combination of completing the syllabus and attempting mock tests is the ideal approach for effective preparation.