How to Improve Your Writing Skills for the UPSC Mains Exam

As you are well aware the UPSC mains exam consists of nine descriptive papers. Here also, you must score the minimum required marks to get the interview call from the board. Thousands of people take the mains written exam and mostly all study similar material.

So, how do you distinguish your best answers from the rest? You need to write in a style that is good, neat, systematic, error-free, aesthetic, and one that shows your clean grasp of facts. This article will give you insights on how to improve writing skills for the UPSC mains exam and more tips on answer writing skills for the IAS exam.

Skilful Answer Writing for UPSC Mains

The following tips will help improve your writing skills for the UPSC Mains Exam-

1. Increase your reading count

You can improve your writing by reading a lot. Sure, you have to read a lot for your IAS preparation, but the next time when you read a newspaper or magazine, do focus on the written content style also. Reading more familiarises you with good writing practices subconsciously and this will be reflected in your writing as well. So, reading more is the first step in knowing how to improve answer writing in UPSC mains exam.

2. Keep your outline consistent

The outline refers to the basic structure of your written piece, in your case, answers. You should have an introduction, body and conclusion to your piece. And they must be consistent as much as possible.

3. Do not use unnecessary jargons or technical terms. Also, avoid clichés

While writing answers in the UPSC mains, restrict the use of unnecessarily technical words and clichés. Don’t write just to fill up the word count. Remember that quality is better appreciated than quantity. The examiner will most likely be put off by a paper that comes across as written by a person trying to show off his knowledge.

4. Avoid generalizations

In any writing, generalizations are best avoided. Always give material that you can substantiate with basic facts and information.

5. Do not overdo the embellishments

You must definitely give quotes in your answer. They certainly show your erudition. But avoid giving too many quotes. Also, you can give a few metaphors and similes in your answers. But only very rarely and when you think they are absolutely essential to the point being told. Otherwise, save the embellishments for the English literature optional paper!

6. Be original

This point is self-explanatory. Don’t just reproduce what you read as it is onto the answer paper. Write in your own words. Don’t invent stuff up. But don’t curtail your creativity in writing.

7. Practice makes perfect

Nothing can be perfected or at least improved without practice. Practice answer writing for the UPSC exam as it can make the difference between winning and losing in this high-competition exam.

For 10 quick tips on answer writing, visit the linked article.

8. Make your writing error-free as much as possible

Always make sure that your answers are free from grammatical and spelling errors.

Inculcate all the above-mentioned tips in your writing practise daily and you will see yourself becoming more adept at this art. Mere knowledge is not enough to pass the IAS exam. You need to convince the examiner correcting your answer booklet that you have good knowledge and ideas to become a first-class civil servant. This is possible by writing simple yet effective answers that not only give the required information but also are a pleasure to read as well.

To know more about the topics generally asked in the exam, visit the UPSC Syllabus.

You can find more UPSC-related preparation materials and other articles with the links given in the table below:

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