How To Practice Answer Writing Skills For IAS Mains Exam

We all know that the UPSC mains exam consists of 9 descriptive papers. You will have to score the minimum required marks. We all study from similar material almost, and every year thousands of aspirants take the mains exam of IAS, But very few are called for the interview.

You will get a good score if you frame the best answer different from the rest of the other participants. Your answers should be error-free, systematic, neat and clean and present an appropriate point of view. Here are some tips for mains answer writing practice. 

Error-free answer

Don't make grammatical and spelling errors in your daily mains answer writing practice. Otherwise, it will decrease the value of your answer though it may be a good one content-wise.

 

Originality and creativity

Don't write as it is, what you have read the answer or materials in the book. Use your own words. Be original and creative. Make sure you don't invent stuff.

Practice

You will have heard practice makes a man perfect( including women). But no one is perfect. Then why did we practice!! Ok, now jokes apart!! 

Practice brings perfection.

It improves your skill and makes you perfect in answer writing. Regular practice is a milestone in the journey of UPSC mains answer writing practice. Practice makes a big difference between winning and losing the IAS exam.

Generalizations are not good.

Generalization is not good in mains answer writing, so please avoid it. Write the answer, which you can prove through basic facts.

Don't use so many quotes.

To give quotes in your answer is good. It shows your excellence and knowledge. But giving too many quotes is not good. Use quotes, metaphors, similes in your answer where it is really necessary. You can use more metaphor and simile in your English literature optional paper.

Frame your answer properly

Outline the basic structure of your answer. Write a proper introduction, base and conclusion. It should be consistent.

Read a lot

If you want to improve your writing skills, then read a lot. The more you will read for your IAS preparation, the more you will have material to write down. Also, see the writing style whenever you read any newspaper or magazine.

Don't overload your answer with technical terms.

Don't use unnecessary technical words in your answer while writing for the UPSC mains exam. Only to fulfil the word count, don't write it. Quality is always better than quantity. The examiner will not like a person who is trying to show off his extra knowledge. Always write as per the need of the question.

This exam needs a smart strategy with hard work to clear it. Prelims exam may be unpredictable and surprising for many aspirants since the question has shifted a lot to current affairs.

Turn yourself from a commoner to an administrator.

UPSC mains exam checks your decision-making ability, problem-solving approach and administrator like perspective. So only theoretical knowledge is not sufficient. Make Yourself indulge in important problem-solving discussions. Know about the Topics of national and international importance. Please make your attitude and approach towards all these things and reflect them in the IAS exam's answer.

Previous year question papers

You will get sufficient knowledge from NCERTs and other standard books. Now solve at least the last five years' question papers. It will give you the idea of exam patterns and help in answer writing practice. The analysis of the questions will be very easy.

Make your notes

Make short precise notes of the important topics. Revise them weekly and at the last moment too. Also, prepare notes for current affairs. Notes should be prepared like this. You can remember the whole topic while revising. Prepare separate notes for every subject and highlight the important points.

Mains test series

Enroll yourself in the mains test series and check your preparation level after completing the basic knowledge of the main subject. Test series will help you to practice answer writing and understand the exam pattern of the exam. Here You will also get an idea about the predictable questions.

Answer Writing practice

Start daily answer writing practice after getting a basic knowledge of the subject. Try to write a well-framed answer in stipulated time by covering all the dimensions. It is a very important process in preparation for the IAS exam.

Revision

Revision is the key to success in the mains exam. Otherwise, revise all the study material once a week, which you have read the entire week. It will help you to retain the huge syllabus of the IAS mains exam. A good note will help you to revise quickly at the last time.

Focus on each subject

Make the right timetable and give equal time to each subject because every subject is equally important in the IAS exam. Don't ignore the optional subject too.

Current affairs are important.

Reading the newspaper daily for current affairs is a must for the IAS exam. It covers the dynamic parts of the syllabus. Many successful candidates suggest the Hindu and The Indian express. Some other sources for current affairs are economic surveys, budget editorials, current affairs compilation and Rajya sabha lok sabha TV. More than 50% of the IAS syllabus is about current affairs these days.

Syllabus read the syllabus.

Reading the syllabus is very necessary so that I can be able to know what is relevant to the IAS exam. You will have a basic knowledge of GS subjects through the Prelims exam.

Read NCERT books first.

Make your base strong with NCERT books first. Approx the entire GS syllabus will be covered up from the NCERT books. When your base is built up, then go for standard books. Don't read every book but read-only relevant standard books. For optional subjects, read the standard books of 12th to graduation level.