10 tips on how to prepare for the UPSC main examination

Here are the most practical tips to help you prepare for the UPSC main examinations. These tips would help you prepare well for the UPSC mains

By K.Krishna Pradeep

If you are a serious aspirant for the UPSC main examinatios, here are ten tips that could help you prepare for the crucial exams.

1. Understand the Question:

Before you start writing you should read the question carefully and understand the main theme of the question. To understand the question better, you must follow these tips,

• Read the question at least 3 to 4 times.
• Break the question into small components. Identify the exact demand of the given question
• Identify the directive in the question like analyse, discuss, comment, critically comment, critically examine etc. These directives help you to define the approach in the answer writing.

2. Plan your answer:

• Take a few minutes to organise the answer with your thoughts and plan your answer with perfect relevant headings and examples.
• Note down important points you want to include in the answer.

3. Structure of the answer:

• Introduction: After understanding the question start with a definition that answers the question. Introduction shows the examiner that you have understood the question and its demand.

Types:

• Definition-Based Introductions: Define the concept theme according to the demand or special definition of the question.
• Contemporary Events based: If suitable, refer to the most recent happenings about the subject.
• Dimensions based: On the instructions of the question, discuss dimensions regarding reasons, importance, or features.
• Specific facts based: Give some examples, facts, or data to show how much you know things right from the beginnin

Body: The body of answer should maintain detailed information and analysis. It can be divided into multiple paragraphs or points, each paragraph covering specific points and aspect of the given question.

• Organising into sections: Divide the answer into key sections in order wise based on the demand and theme of the question and use relevant headings.
• Using relevant headings: These headings help you to better looking and these are directly from the parts of the question to ensure you address all the details.
• Argumentative analysis: The content in the body should be in argumentative type. Write proper explanation and reason of each point with perfect suitable example. Add each point with relevant data, example, quotations to strengthen your answer.
• Multidimensional analysis: writing multidimensional answer is very important. Include all GS subjects (Geographical, Historical, Political, social, Ethical) key points to enrich the answer, which makes you unique in the answer writing.
• Use Key words: use main key words and key facts in the answer. Key words are highlighting the core theme or demand of the question.

Conclusion: This is the final part of the question and this is last chance to impress the examiner to get more marks.  Conclusion should be in following ways:

• Broad and futuristic
• Summarisation
• Solution and recommendation-based conclusion
• Call to action-based conclusion

4. Use clear and Simple language:

• You shoudl use clear language to make your answer easy to understand.
• Avoid complex vocabulary and complex sentences.
• Your aim is to impress with your quality of content not with vocabulary.

5. Focus on Relevancy:

• Stick to the main theme or demand of the question.
• Do not write unnecessary content and data which is not relevant to the question.
• Every sentence should add valueto main theme of the question.

6. Flow:

• The points should organise into unique flow and prioritise accordingly.Eg. Chronology in order.

7. Presentation:

• Good presentation can make answer more interesting and appealing to the examiner.
• Write with good hand writing and give gaps between points and paragraphs for clarity. Underline the key words and key facts.
• The Use of Flow charts, Diagrams, Tables and mind maps will improve presentation.
• Heading and subheading order also improve presentation.

8. Word limit:

• Maintain proper word count according to the question.
• Do not write more words in the answer which will impact in negative way.

9. Time management:

• This is crucial part of the examination. With proper time management you can complete all questions.
• Practising writing answers with a set time limit to improve your speed and managing time more effective in Main examination.

10. Review and revise:

• If time permits, quickly revise your answer and make the necessary corrections including grammatical and factual ones.

(The author is Chairman of 21st Century IAS Academy)