One of the most difficult exams in India is the UPSC exam. The second phase of the exam, the UPSC Mains, requires candidates to provide detailed answers for nine papers. One of the hardest parts of the IAS Mains is composing the answers. It takes a lot of effort to create and frame the questions’ responses in the allotted three hours for each paper. The presentation must be handled carefully, and you must make sure there are no filler phrases that stray from the subject at hand. Each response must follow a specific format, consisting of an introduction, body, conclusion, subheadings, etc. Practice is crucial, therefore. You can learn how to approach your daily answer writing practise for the UPSC CSE in this article.
Here are some Mains Answer Writing Practice Tips:
- Consistently follow your outline
The outline alludes to the fundamental structure of your written work, in this case, your answers. Your answer must include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. And they need to be as constant as they can be.
- Avoid using technical phrases or jargon that is not essential.
Avoid using overly technical language and clichés when writing answers for the UPSC mains. Don’t write merely to increase your word count. We know that quality is worth more than quantity. The examiner will most likely be put off by a paper that comes across as authored by a person eager to show off his knowledge.
- Up your reading capacity
Reading a much will help your writing. Yes, you must read extensively to prepare for the IAS, but the next time you read a newspaper or magazine, pay attention to the writing style as well. By reading more, you subconsciously get more familiar with good writing techniques, which will show in your writing as well. So, the first step in learning how to write better answers for the UPSC mains exam is to read more.
- Do not generalise.
Generalizations should always be avoided in writing. Always present information that can be supported by fundamental facts and data.
- Be unique
It is obvious what this point means. Don’t simply copy what you read verbatim onto the response sheet. Create your own writing. Don’t make things up. But don’t limit your writing originality.
- Avoid using too many embellishments.
Quotes must unquestionably be included in your response. They undoubtedly display your erudition. But be careful not to overquote. You can include a few metaphors and similes to your responses as well. But only very infrequently, and only when you believe they are absolutely necessary to the message being conveyed. Otherwise, keep the decorations for the optional English literature paper.
- Make sure your writing is flawless
Make every effort to ensure that your responses are free of grammatical and spelling problems.
- Getting better through practise
Without practise, nothing can be mastered or at the very least improved. As it could mean the difference between winning and losing in this highly competitive exam, practise composing answers for the UPSC test.
- Paragraphs or points
Many candidates struggle with the decision of whether to write in paragraphs or in points. There isn’t a set of guidelines here that you must adhere to. It depends on how at ease you are and what you are accustomed to. Continue writing in points if you think you can do it more effectively; if you feel more at ease expressing yourself in paragraphs, keep doing that.
- Presentation
Use clear, readable handwriting to write your answers. Where appropriate, include headers and subheadings. If it helps improve the quality of your responses, provide tables and figures as well.
- Give thorough responses
For the IAS mains exam, it’s crucial to approach answer writing from multiple angles. Write your response after approaching it from all sides.
- Insert keywords
Always use keywords to draw attention to the parts of your responses that are crucial for scoring. Try to highlight the keyword phrases.
- Explain your responses.
Don’t forget to back up any claims you make in your responses. This will validate your responses and give the examiner the impression that you are well-read.
When Should You Begin Writing practice for the Mains?
Writing answers is a game of what and how. You must first decide what to write and then figure out how to write it. As a result, you cannot begin answering questions until you have covered a substantial portion of the syllabus. If you begin too soon, you will not know what to write and will wind up doing research on the issue, wasting valuable time. First, study the course content and, if possible, revise it before beginning to write answers. If you begin answering questions 6 months into your preparation and write 1-2 responses per day for the remaining 6 months, you will have practised 180-360 questions, or 9-18 papers.
To conclude
It is not sufficient to simply put out answers and study for the IAS exam. You should also have your responses reviewed by professors, seniors, or mentors. Only in this manner can you identify and rectify your flaws. Another significant benefit of answer writing practise is that you will learn more by writing. Writing allows you to internalise what you’ve read. This is especially important when you have a large syllabus to read. You will learn to write what is required rather than what you know.
