How to Develop UPSC Mains Exam Writing Skills?

 

There is no quick fix for this. It takes some time, but once you've mastered it, it becomes your life's "Brahmastra." It involves three steps:

1. You acquire writing skills.
2. You hone your writing skills with the intention of persuading readers.
3. You are a master at writing with the intention of persuading the examiner and winning him points.

Step 1: The majority of UPSC CSE applicants struggle with this step, even though it should be completed at the school level. The variety of exams with an objective framework that has emerged recently is the cause.

You should first understand what writing is all about before even considering passing CSE Mains. It seems silly, but in Indian schools and institutions, the value of writing clearly and correctly is seldom truly emphasized. When we lack writing experience, our thoughts and the messages we portray via writing frequently diverge.

Start writing every day about subjects you are knowledgeable about. It might be anything—movies, sports, food, etc. Just jot down 500 words on the subject of your choice each day. You will notice how differently and efficiently you have begun expressing your views after, say, a year.

Step 2: In this writing exercise, you are writing not just for yourself but also for a reader. You must thus take care to write in a manner that is clear to the reader and easy to understand.

To Do: I always advise individuals to make reading newspapers a habit. The common man is the only audience for the editorials and news articles that are published. Understanding their tone, rhythm, and how the columnists and reporters construct their stories is simple. You will instantly notice an improvement in your personal writing style when this is done diligently and seriously over time.

Step 3: After completing stages 1 and 2, you enter the arena of competition. Your writing needs to be "better" than the 1500 or so rivals taking the CSE Mains in addition to making sense to the reader.

To Do: After completing the first two phases, you are aware of both "what" and "how" to write. You must engage in specialized preparation for the CSE Mains here. Preferably, this should be completed six months before Mains. If that much time isn't available, this practice really must start after Prelims.

1. Analyze the kind of queries that have been posed since 2013 in great detail.
2. Examine the command words—analyze, critically analyze, comment, and describe—carefully, then structure your response in accordance.
3. Register for a test series on a reputed platform like the gk quiz. Select what is appropriate. Don't let your test results stress you out too much. Take it slowly.
4. You will come across terms that are used frequently as you go through the Mains syllabus. Take note of such terms and include them in your responses. Examples include agriculture which uses less energy and sustainable development.
5. Always back up your claims with indisputable evidence. Such fact/data banks should be utilized wherever possible, including government publications, World Bank reports, and NSSO surveys.
6. Write your responses point by point so that you have time to consider the following point as you are writing the previous one.

Getting good scores on the CSE Mains is a laborious process. Your writing skills will be put to the test, and how successfully you complete the previous three phases will determine your success.

Thanks for Reading!

Good Luck!