How do I improve my writing skills for the UPSC?
Writing the UPSC exam or any other exam is about understanding the topics. Therefore, writing skills are essential. Students are often good at learning and speaking but need help writing the same content. These students lack writing skills. Students must improve their UPSC answer writing skills to pass the UPSC examinations on the first attempt.
As you know, there are nine descriptive papers on the UPSC mains exam. You must achieve the minimum required score to get to an interview call.
Thousands of candidates write this exam every year and all study the same material and popular books. Therefore, it is important to stand out from the crowd, which can only be achieved by good writing.
This article will give you insights on how to improve writing skills for the UPSC. You can also check for the UPSC mains question paper.
Overview
The nature of the UPSC preliminary examination is objective. Hence it is easy to pass purely based on your learning and knowledge. Not with the UPSC Mains examination. As it is subjective, students must write and elaborate their answers rather than simply selecting the correct option.
How can students distinguish themselves from others when the syllabus and study materials are identical?
The answer is simple: students must write systematically, well, and neatly. Additionally, the answer should be pleasing and error-free, reflecting the student’s subject understanding.
This article will discuss the most effective tips for improving writing skills for the UPSC. Also, check for UPSC mains 2023.
10 Tips to improve writing skills for the UPSC
After a trend-based analysis by UPSC Wallah Faculty and a discussion with experts and successful candidates. The UPSC Wallah has shared some important tips to master answer writing skills.
Increase Reading Count
When we read more, we also can write more. Such a practice will help enhance the student’s language and vocabulary, essential for passing exams such as the UPSC.
Students can readily improve their writing skills by reading several articles and magazines. It is important that candidates first prepare for their UPSC examinations. When they have free time, they should read newspapers and renowned magazines to improve their writing style.
Students will get familiar with good writing habits with less effort if they read more. Therefore, reading more should be the first step in improving the answer-writing skills of students. Also, check for books for UPSC beginners.
Maintain Basic Structure
The basic structure of the answers should always be maintained. Exam answers written by students should stick to a standard format. Like starting with an introduction, then the body of the answer, and ending with a conclusion.
A regular writing structure can help the examiner evaluate the student’s answer sheet. And understand the student’s writing, leading to higher scores. The student will also find it easier to write and explain the answers.
Avoid being Generalise in your answer.
Students should realise that they will write answers for the UPSC exam, not a novel. Therefore, candidates should avoid being overly generic or philosophical in their answers.
It’s important to remember that students should not give their opinions on particular UPSC exam subjects while writing the answers. Unless it has been asked specifically in the question itself.
Students may include relevant quotes or phrases but should not exaggerate the issue. The answer should be written in such a way that it is always relevant to the topic.
Since generalisations never work, students should use as many facts as possible while writing their answers. Students must support their claims with as many relevant facts as necessary. This will help in improving the overall quality of the written answers.
The examiner reviewing the answer sheet will also be impressed by the quality of the answers. Which will result in the student receiving good scores.
Keep things simple and avoid unnecessary jargon.
Avoid using unnecessary technical jargon and cliche when writing answers for the UPSC mains exam. Do not write simply to meet the required word count. Remember that quality is more valuable than quantity. The examiner will likely be put off by a paper that is an attempt to show one’s knowledge.
Read NCERT Books Before choosing UPSC Standard Books.
It is recommended that students build a solid foundation by reading NCERT books first, as they cover the majority of the UPSC syllabus. NCERT books should be utilised from the sixth class to the twelfth class. After completing the basics, students should move on to their standard books for UPSC.
After obtaining the basic knowledge of all the subjects, students can now study standard books. It is recommended that candidates read only the relevant UPSC standard books and not everything under the sun. You can also check for ncert books for UPSC preparation.
Keep up with current national news.
There is no easier way for students to remain updated about current events than reading newspapers. Students can choose one or two of the most widely circulated newspapers in their area and start to read them daily.
Knowing current affairs has always been an integral part of the UPSC exam preparation process. As more than half of the exam syllabus is based on current happenings. Also, check for daily current affairs for UPSC.
Practice Answer Writing Regularly
Everyone has probably heard the phrase, “Practice makes a man perfect,” and the same stands true in this case. Without practice, students cannot even think of improving something. Answer writing practice can be the differentiator between passing and failing a competitive exam.
This is one of the most important ways to enhance writing skills for the UPSC, as most students need help managing their exam time well.
Since the UPSC exam has a time limit for each subject. Students must effectively manage their time to answer all questions within the allotted time. Also, check for toppers notes UPSC.
Do Revision Regularly
It’s recommended that students dedicate one specific hour of the day only to revising the past subjects or topics that have already been covered. Revision is essential to understand and remember the UPSC exam’s full syllabus.
In addition, students should take proper notes for each subject or topic so that they may revise without difficulty at any time. Students will need more time to revise the syllabus in one session on exam day. Thus such practice will be useful.
During the revision phase, the UPSC notes for each subject or topic should be organised. so that the entire subject may be grasped by simply reading the note
Solve Past year’s question paper
After having a solid understanding of the entire syllabus and finishing the necessary revisions. Then students next move to answer questions from previous years’ exams. Students need to solve papers from the previous five years, which will help them understand the overall exam structure.
Understanding the trend of questions on the UPSC exam is also essential, as it will allow the student to focus more on the most relevant areas. Students should highlight the topics that generate the most questions and marks. You can also check the UPSC previous year question paper.
Improve your grammar and tenses and learn the concept rather than mugging up.
Students should not just memorise or copy information from their textbooks. When writing the UPSC exam, candidates should instead read the material, understand it, and then explain the answer in their own words.
Because the examiner will know that the UPSC aspirants have a firm grasp of the topic or issue, this approach will be much more beneficial for obtaining high scores.
This will also be the differentiating factor between a good student who has understood the topic concepts and a student who has simply memorized the entire subject without a solid grasp of the topic.
In addition to understanding the principles, students should enhance their basic English writing skills, such as grammar and tense. Focusing on grammar is important because it enables the student to write answers that are well-structured and easy for the examiner to read and comprehend.
The writing style must fit with the examiner’s expectations for the answer. Otherwise, the candidate is unlikely to impress the examiner and would receive fewer marks for the question, resulting in a lower overall score.
Conclusion
The UPSC exam not only seeks students with a solid understanding of theoretical subjects but also evaluates the candidate’s overall problem-solving approach. The candidate should also have an administrator-like perspective or approach to most topics or subjects, leading to future decision-making competency.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to improve your writing skills for the UPSC will vary depending on your individual needs and goals. However, some general tips that may be useful include practicing writing in various formats, reading widely to develop your vocabulary and understanding of grammar, and seeking feedback from others on your work.
And last but not least, enjoy the process! Writing can be very rewarding, and who knows – maybe you’ll find a new passion. By following these suggestions, you can start to see improvements in your writing abilities and confidence in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the minimum educational requirement for the UPSC examination?
Any candidate for the examination must hold a degree from a government-recognized university. Or equivalent qualification. Students in their final year who are awaiting their results may also apply for the UPSC examination.
- Is there a penalty for incorrect answers on the written exam?
Yes, there is a negative marking on the preliminary exam’s General Studies (GS) Paper I.
Each incorrect answer would result in a loss of one-third of the marks assigned to that question. For Paper II of the preliminary examination, a negative marking of one-third and a passing score of 33 percent or 66 marks are required.
- Which subject is advisable in graduation to crack the UPSC Exam?
There is no recommendation for the graduation subject to help pass the UPSC exam. Humanities have a slight advantage over other disciplines but do not make a significant difference.