UPSC Mains Answer Writing Strategy
UPSC Prelims is important but Your post and Your future is decided by UPSC mains so you must have strategy to clear it with ease. Here we are going to talk about UPSC Mains Answer Writing Strategy that can fetch you higher marks then you were hoping so you can clear the cutoff with good margin. Interview is important too but You need to be aware to the fact that Only the mains is in Your hand Interview is based on various external factors that are not in your hand that’s you must need to focus on your UPSC Mains most.
Now without wasting your time let’s start our journey. Just one thing keep your mind your open while reading this as You will find some unconventional ideas too that might look very easy or very different but if you start practicing those you will surely see improvement in your score.
Understand What UPSC Is Actually Asking in the Question
Using your time cautiously is very important during the paper but that doesn’t mean you start writing the answer without fully understanding what UPSC wants to know. Words such Discuss, Critically analyze, Analyze, Critically examine, Evaluate etc. all these words have different meaning. And You need to tackle the question based on whats the word they have used.
What Many students tend to is they start writing the answer according to their knowledge. Yes, You will have to write based on what you have read or know. But The way present it matters most. Now Analyze and Critically Analyze will have same answers but critically analyze will have bigger paragraph or more points on the negative side.
First Understand what the question is asking and then present what you know. Presentation matters, handwriting not.
How to Structure a High-Scoring UPSC Mains Answer
Now When I say presentation that not means the way you write but what you write too. Even you know the answer You might not get the highest possible marks because of bad structure. You must structure you answers very cautiously.
first short Introduction, then the Body in pointers, if the question cant be written in pointers then write short paragraphs then conclusion. Introduction and conclusion is very important even you are writing 2-3 lines in each that matters.
if some kind of map or diagrams can be drawn the you must draw that dont worry about the bad drawing it will fetch you good marks.
How to Write Effective Introductions and Conclusions
Introduction and conclusion are very important. It must not give the full picture but grow excitement. Now when you start writing Introduction you must not give the full picture of what’s coming just give enough to grow their excitement. If you give your most important pointers in the intro itself then the body would get dull and they wont read it or even if they read they wont fund anything new, which will result in less marks.
Conclusion must not be written like its the intro like do not give anything new that examiners think that it must have been explained. When writing the conclusion you must keep in mind that its the end of the things, you need to sum up your answer not start something new so never give something new to the examiner.
Both the things set the mood of the examiner, by reading intro he must think ‘Looks something new excitement I should read it ahead” and after conclusion he must not think something’s missing.
How to Use Examples, Data, Diagrams and Current Affairs
Examples, Diagrams and Current Affairs are very important but you shouldn’t overuse them to the extent that examiner thinks you are showing off Your current affairs knowledge.
Economics, Sci & Tech, Environment, Geography etc are subjects where Diagrams, Examples and Current Affairs must be used. But if you writing answer on Medieval India and you are using from current affairs that doesn’t even match. All these things have different usage you cant use diagrams or maps in economics as effectively as in Geography same goes for current affairs examples in economics and not in History.
You must need to use these to supplement the answer and not overcrowd it. If it needs or you dont know the answer using these will surely benefit you but don’t just use it because you know things but the question doesn’t ask for it.
Common UPSC Mains Answer Writing Mistakes to Avoid
Many Students lose marks not because they don’t know the answer but because they don’t present it properly. Here are 5 mistakes that you must avoid to get full marks according to your knowledge and presentation.
- Ignoring Part of the Question :- most of the 20 marks question carry 2-3 parts and sometimes even the students knows the full parts he forgets to acknowledge the part which he is writing. You must write the whole answer with addressing the part that you are writing.
- Writing too long Introduction or Conclusion:- I cant overexplain this thing that even though introduction and Conclusion are important that doesn’t mean you give up the answer body to these two.
- Repeating the same points:- Now lets say you mentioned your main point in intro then you wrote that in body then in conclusion. IT hurts your marks, don’t repeat your points that’s why its important to plan accordinly.
- Using irrelevant information:- Now the question asks about weather patterns and you are giving examples of How ISRO and NASA launched NISAR that’s irrelevant to the question doesn’t it. You need to stick the question and use the examples that is relevant.
- Not Maintaining Proper Time Management:- Its a vert lengthy paper if you waste even 5 minutes that might hurt your score thats why you must practice a lot before exam and in the examination itself you must not waste your time on one single question.
Conclusion
I hope now You have a got better understanding UPSC Mains Answer Writing Strategy . We have presented 5 UPSC Mains Answer Writing Strategy which are going to do miracles if you keep it mind while practicing your mains papers.
If you have any question regarding this or anything else kindly comment below we will try to answer.
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