Essay Writing for UPSC Civil Service Examination

Essay writing for UPSC mains is one of the nine mains papers, which allows you to put forward your thoughts. This paper checks the depth and breadth of your knowledge. And when we say knowledge, it doesn't mean our conventional understanding of the same. The topics are unknown to us before the exam, and we are expected to apply all that we have learned to produce a logical and intelligent account of what is being asked. 

You have to write two essays, each with a word count of 1000 – 1200. You have to pick one topic from four topics. The Essay Paper is for 250 marks, with one Essay for 125 marks. Essay writing for UPSC mains is not an easy job. It requires the right approach and good practice.

Many candidates take the essay paper too lightly, resulting in a score not comparable with their potential. Hence, it is vital to attempt this paper with the same seriousness as all other papers in UPSC GS Mains and learn the art of writing a good essay.

It has been seen that many UPSC exam aspirants overlook the importance of preparing their essays well. Most novices mistakenly feel they can write the perfect Essay on their exam day, while the repeaters equate the knowledge gained through their General studies preparation to successful writing. 

In both cases, writing practice is left unconsidered. UPSC Mains essay writing has 250 marks comprising 2 essays in total (125 marks each). Leaving behind writing a good essay of 1000 to 1200 words to mere chance is a grave error.

An essay is a deciding factor in your Mains score. Even after spending months in GS preparation, aspirants struggle to score even 100 marks in GS papers out of 250 each if one prepares smartly and gives adequate time for Essay preparation, it's quite possible to score 150+ marks in Essay.

Due to essay evaluation's unpredictable nature, how can we tackle this paper?

Tackling it smartly : How to write essays for UPSC

The duration of the essay paper is 3 hours, and the word limit is not mentioned. It is generally said that 1500-2000 words should make a good essay. This can comfortably be written even with a moderate pace in 2 to 2 ½ hours. So the first 30- 45 minutes can be spent for the groundwork preparation. 

First is the selection of the proper essay topic. Out of the 6 topics, one topic would generally be related to a philosophical issue, unless one is confident it is better to opt it out. Likewise, one can eliminate topics with which one is not comfortable. 

Some topics, most of the aspirants, cannot maintain a balance throughout the Essay, so better opt them also out. Finally, select the topic that you think can do justice. The answer booklet of the main examination consists of 24 single pages.

The last 3-4 pages can be used for rough work. If you are sure, you can complete the main booklet, ask for one additional at the beginning of the exam and use it for rough work. In these pages, prepare an outline for the Essay by asking questions yourselves. It is also called brainstorming.

Essay writing for UPSC main: Essay Writing Tips and Tricks

• Framework Before Writing

A properly structured framework with all your essay points is required before writing. You have to see the toppers strategy, papers and It will have three compulsory distinct parts. They are an introduction, content body, and conclusion. This type of format looks neat and authentic. As a result, you will be able to fetch greater marks.

• Right knowledge

UPSC essay writing for mains is not your regular school or college question. Here, along with your knowledge of a topic, your ability to produce it sequentially, consistently and precisely is equally important.

Your general studies preparation, magazines like Economic and Political Weekly, Yojana, etc., will give to knowledge. These magazines will help you revise your GS content and give you good ideas regarding the content presentation.

• Right Introduction

Starting your GS answers with a definition is the right thing to do, but doing so in essays makes it stale and boring. It would help if you tried up the examiner's interest by quoting a famous personality, an interesting quote, or a relatable real-life/fictional event. Books, magazines and newspapers will help you learn essay-worthy anecdotes and incidents.

• Relevant content

One way of writing for a particular topic might not work for the other. You must first understand the nature of your topic and then decide how you want to tackle it further.

• Back-up your arguments

It must include constitutional provisions, examples, statistics and expert opinions to look authentic.

• Vocabulary

A good vocabulary showcases how well-read you are. This doesn't mean you use it incessantly. But, a strong word can add value to your sentences when used the right way. We know that you can't read up an entire dictionary in a week. And we do not expect you to do so too. 

Reading newspapers is the best way to build up a strong vocabulary. Even reading non-fiction can be of great help here. You must write down the words, phrases and quotes that seem unique alongside their meanings. Writing an example sentence along with it will help you retain it in your memory longer.

• Intelligent and worldly-wise subheadings

The subheading is the full-body copy at a glance. Representing a paragraph with a catchy, smart and content-aligned subheading can get you major points in an essay exam. It raises the interest of the examiner and also aids readability.

• Coherent in paragraphs content

When writing a long essay of 1000-1200 words, it's quite easy to lose out on the main message you want to convey. It is crucial to present your sentences/paragraphs in an organized and sequential manner. Practice is essential if you want to deliver a write-up that showcases your well-connected thinking ability. You can end a paragraph with a question or an introduction to the next paragraph. This will help you maintain a smooth connection between your subtopics.

• Avoid unnecessary jargon

Though the exam tests your vocabulary, avoid using complex words to sound well-read. Instead, concentrate on writing clear, concise and meaningful sentences that convey your point. It is best to avoid redundant sentences. A common mistake made by many is writing lengthy sentences. It's best to put down small and simple sentences rather than elaborate ones that will make the reader lose out on the crux of your point.

• Powerful conclusion

You must always summarise your Essay on an optimistic note in 3-4 lines. It is advisable to not skip on giving your vision for the future. Introduction and conclusion are most important in making your impression /picture and deciding your score. Hence ending and introduction of your Essay should be very strong.