taken from Shubra saxena blog

Writing Skills
Now let's come to writing answers in mains.
IN GS you have a huge range of answers to write, from 20 word to 250 word answers. each type of
question demands separate treatment.
20 word/ 2markers
******************
try to write as much information in less space.Write in phrases and not full grammatical sentences,
punctuate these phrases with ";" , The idea is to write maxmum possible stuff about the topic under
question.
10 marks
*********
These kind of question require writing about 100-120 words. Now you don't have much space to
manouver around. Please do not write an introduction in these answers as that takes a lot of words.
Start your actual answer with the first word.
20 marks/30 marks
********************
These questions appear in ur optional papers as well.
The word limit is aout 200-275 words. For these questions, write an introduction that is small and
sweet. Try to mould the question itself in an answer format giving the examiner an idea that you know
what you are talking about.For eg. If there is a question about President being a ceremonial position
and noting else, You can start by stating that, Indian constitution has provided for a President as the
head of the state, But the real position of importance is that of the PM who is the head of the govt. But
while saying this, you should also continue and say that, Calling the institution of President merely a
ceremonial one would be wrong because the constitution has provided some discretionary powers to
the president. Now your 1st para ends.
Your introduction should be about 25-35 words.
In the next para, start with why president is a nominal head. quote art 74, 42nd amenment act, 44th
AA and so on. Then in the next para write why he is not just a ceremonial head.
Do not waste words. every sentence should have relevance to the answer.
Then conclude the answer in about 20-30 words. But do not write a conclusion that is similar to your
introduction.
60 Marks
***********
These appear only in optional papers.
For these answers you have no word limit whatsoever. I have written some answers as long as 950
words. But remember you can't do that to every answer. Maybe the 1st and 2nd 60 marker you can
write upto this length, but your last 60 marker would somehow suffer. So choose your best 2 60
markers initially and try to wind them in 1:20 to 1:30 hours. Try to treat them the best. After that in
something like 1.5 hours you have to finish 6 20 markers and 1 60 marker. That's how I wrote my

papers.
In a 60 marker you have a lot of space. Write a good and lengthy introduction, something like 60 to 80
words or so. Then every paragraph should have a theme or idea. Please do not write in points a 60
marker answer. avoid writing in points your optional answer papers, even 20 markers.
Finish with a conclusion about 40-50 words long. Also underline the words or phrases that are
instrumental to the answer. The underlining should not be overdone. I think one shoud refrain from
using red or green clour pens to underline. I used either the same colour or black/blue combination.
Try to make figures if they are relevant to the answer. If you can, create your own figures.
you can make them even in a 20 marker.
Now, most of the students face this problem. When they first strat writing answers, they can't start the
introduction. So please practice introduction writing for as many questions as you can. that will make
it easier in the exam to start.
Secondly, your handwriting should be legible if not beautiful. Practice on it if you have a bad one. I had
a v bad one. I worked on it.
Thirdly, you should practice answer writing regularly, if possible try to get them evaluated by a good
teacher or a good student. Now, when you practice answer writing, write them in the time limit that
the exam will offer you. A well written 20 marker in 2 hours won't serve any purpose whatsoever.
Last, try to write grammatical and sensible sentences. Do not go for the myth that flowery language or
exotic vocabulary helps score better. write simple and meaningful sentences.
one more thing. before starting to answer a question, understand the demand of the question. Do not
presuppose the demand of the question. Often we start writing w/o understanding the question
correctly.
Then after understanding the question rightly, you should make a framework of your answer
somewhere as to what all you want to write. This will help as in the process of writing you tend to
forget points easily.
I hope this will help you in your mains.
I will follow this post with essay post.
TC
Posted by Shubhra at 8:32 AM
57 comments:

1.
AshishJune 23, 2009 at 9:58 AM
thanks
Reply
2.
AshishJune 23, 2009 at 10:04 AM
thank u so much ma'am for this post about writing style.It clarified my doubt
regarding paragraphs and points.
Reply
3.
RavanJune 23, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Thanks a lot Ma'am !!!!!!!!
Reply
4.
venkiJune 23, 2009 at 12:00 PM
M'am Excellent material Thanks a ton
Reply
5.
shaveta.sJune 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM
That's quite an effort you have put in....
Thanks a lot ma'am....
Reply

6.
sreekanth choudryJune 23, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Good one Ms. Shubra.... despite having a bad ( or awful :) ) hand-writing ( i believe
that it is something we develop in childhood, so how much ever one works on it, it
can only become legible, not candy ) you topped the list; commendable. This once
again emphasizes that UPSC demands concise content not decoration...
regards
sreekanth
Reply
7.
SudhanvaJune 23, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Thanks a ton !!!!!!
Reply
8.
ShailJune 23, 2009 at 8:55 PM
thanks for valuable advice .I just want to sahre my experince...i followed exactly the
same startegy as u said in my last year but couldnt score well....but now came to
know that even tooper has same startegy ....i may conclude my fault lies elsewhere
...(otherwise i was thinking of wrong writing strategy of mine)..thanks for sharing
.one query what to do when very less time left for 20 marks ?in optionlas ..secondly
what should be content ike in 200 words question in optionals. more factual or
analytical???AS many 200 words question are open ended as they just give topic
.without any specific question.eg Reproducvie health (in sociology)
Reply
9.

This comment has been removed by the author.
Reply
10.
parbatJune 23, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Ma'm plz suggets me some authentic material to study for GS that is must to read in
GS & other than that nothing to read fot that particular module. like Spectrum fot
modern india is more than enough that is what is being said and so on if material of
any coaching inst. will help than plz suggest it like vajiram for polity and etc. One
more thing mam what one should read if he is not reading news paper while
preparing for mains. mam plz suggest me above w.r.t. main exam only.
Reply
11.
vishwaJune 23, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Thanks Shubhraji , quells most of my doubts on the writing skills
Parbat ,
please post your query in GS related thread
Reply
12.
AnvitiJune 24, 2009 at 7:14 AM
thnxzz ma'am...tht was a gr8 help...the only problem am facing is to get my answers
evaluated...thts the biggest drawback of not being in delhi...anyways one more thing
i would like to ask is tht thr r certain subtitles in questions like
assess,comment,elucidate,critically evaluate,critically examine n so on....so how to
deal with them?
Reply

13.
ShubhraJune 24, 2009 at 3:48 PM
what to do when very less time left for 20 marks ?in optionlas ..secondly what should
be content ike in 200 words question in optionals. more factual or analytical???
if very less time left, go for points....try to put the maximum points possible..
factual or analytical depends on the demand of question. But try to pack in maximum
analysis/facts possible. That will fetch marks
Reply
14.
anyways one more thing i would like to ask is tht thr r certain subtitles in questions
like assess,comment,elucidate,critically evaluate,critically examine n so on....so
how to deal with them?
assess- give positives and negatives both and then see how valid the statement or
point is
comment- give your viewpoint
elucidate- explain well giving examples
critically evaluate- give positives and negatives like a critic would do.
they are almost the same with few subtle differences.
hope this helps
Reply
15.

thanks a lot ....please let me know that does giving examples in answers helps in
getting good marks??...or it is just a waste of words and should we stick to staright
answers???
Reply
16.
shivanuJune 24, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Hi Shubra,
I am from IITD, its really amazing how your are using technology to reach out to
aspirants! Kudos to you!!! I have really benefited a lot by your insights. I am
enclosing a question herewith, if you could share your approach, may a framework or
model answer(if time permits)...Plz accept my thanks again.
Good Governance” is merely the addition of the word “good” before “governance”.
Critically examine the statement in the context of developing countries’
administration.
Reply
17.
fgxnJune 24, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Madam,
1. Optional Mains: Can be use headings for grouping similar paragraphs in 60 marks
questions? or headings should be totally avoided and complete answer should be in
running paragraphs ?
2. How to prioritize GS preparation for people having time constraints?Which
topics/resources one must be thorough and which one can be assigned lower
priorties? (Any pointer for optionals would be a bonus)
Thanks a lot.
Reply
18.
The OneJune 25, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Thank you shubra ji, i for one do not believe in tuition and hence did not join one,
but at the back of my mind there was a niggling doubt as to whether my answer

writing skills were up to the mark, thanks to you i have some tips now i can build
upon this
Reply
19.
Shailendra VermaJune 25, 2009 at 5:29 AM
ma'am thkx a lot for ur guidance
Reply
20.
vandnaJune 25, 2009 at 5:40 AM
Thanks a lot..very nicely explained..it really helped..!
Reply
21.
pradeeepksJune 25, 2009 at 7:41 AM
hi shubhraji,
i have been keenly following your blog.can u plz clarify my doubt..
i dont know whether my post in this thread is appropriate or not,since my doubt is
abt mains -general studies
1.i went through mains question papers of general studies and i found 2 marker
questions very tricky,can u plz clarify whats the startegy to be followed to tackle
this..also can u plz tell me how to practice for the map questions..
i would be gratefull to u if u can answer these questions above
thanks
pradeeepks@gmail.com
Reply
22.

it really helped a lot ma'am..thnxzz
fxgn asked what i was planning to ask tht in 60 markers can we use headings {written
with black pen in case we are using blue ink for the answer} for dividing
paragraphs... for ex. in history if am writing ans on mauryan administration then can
i divide paragraphs under following heads king,counsil of ministers,revenue
adm,military admn...or thr shld not be headings but seperate paras.
one more thing shld be use quotes said by famous persons with black ink while
writing ans in optionals
Reply
23.
well,I never did that in my optionals.
Reply
24.
See, UPSC doesn't say what's the right way of using diff colours. That's something you
have to decide for yourself as to what looks mature and what looks immature.
Reply
25.
i agree ma'am....writing style is sumthin a person shld evolve his/her own with the
time as thr r no parameters disclosed by upsc it gets difficult to reach on a
conclusion wht works n wht not...as for diff colours i think we dont hv tht much time
changing pens afer every four lines so better way out is to underline the thing we
want to stress upon[as u said in the post].
i asked u abt writing quotes becoz thts the way we used to write our university
exams...but obivous we r not supposed to write in same manner for upsc.

regards
P.S.- am waiting for ur post on essay writing.
Reply
26.
ChetanJune 27, 2009 at 3:48 AM
Mam u talked about improving ur handwritng.
How u did it, using some cursive book for handwriting or just writing on plain paper
again and again.
Even my handwritng is not that not good. Can it be improved really? Does any
handwritng experts help?
Reply
27.
AijazJune 27, 2009 at 4:15 AM
Hello Ma'am,
Could you please tell me, what did you follow for Psychology apart from Pathak sir's
notes.Secondly,what strategy would u suggest especially for paper-II.
Profound Regards,
Aijaz
Reply
28.
vishwaJune 27, 2009 at 8:26 PM
chetan ,
my 2 cents , cursive writing is not the way to go. Cursive way of writing is very time
taking and its not legible to most of the folks . so please take that out of contention .
. as for improvment , anybody can improve it with some conscious effort
Reply

29.
priyankaJune 28, 2009 at 2:23 AM
hello mam. thank you very much for the tips. my doubt is while writing 2 markers eg
rani of jhansi,my points would be similar to those of other candidates,then how to
make sure that my answer is better than others?
Reply
30.
AditiJune 28, 2009 at 4:42 AM
pls elaborate on writing about the conclusion in the eg. of president as nominal head
u have taken.
regards
aditi
Reply
31.
ShubhraJune 29, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Mam u talked about improving ur handwritng.
How u did it, using some cursive book for handwriting or just writing on plain paper
again and again.
Even my handwritng is not that not good. Can it be improved really? Does any
handwritng experts help?
************************************************
consciously find out whats wronh with ur handwriting and then go about fixing that.
For eg. if you feel you write too small letters, try writing bigger ones consciously. It
will take time and effort.
Reply
32.

@Aijaz
go to psychology post.
Reply
33.
hello mam. thank you very much for the tips. my doubt is while writing 2 markers eg
rani of jhansi,my points would be similar to those of other candidates,then how to
make sure that my answer is better than others?
*******************************************
Most ppl try to write gmammatically correct sentences w/o packing much info in the
answer . Your effort should be to include as many points as possible in 20 words.
pls elaborate on writing about the conclusion in the eg. of president as nominal head
u have taken.
**************************************
I would conclude it smthg like: even though India's model of parliamentary
democracy is based on UK's model, it differs significantly wrt to President's
discretionary powers which The monarch in UK doesn't have. Thus,calling Indian
Prsident a ceremonial head is a misnomer.
This is a framework. You can make it better by framing it in your own words.
Reply
34.
coolblueJuly 2, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Hi shubra.
can u clarify on this.
To what extent writing quotes is necessary in optionals.
if so where/how
hope it is not a immature question.

thank u very much
Reply
35.
ShubhraJuly 3, 2009 at 10:40 AM
I never wrote any quotes in either Pub Ad of Psychology. I am not sure if you need to
write quotes in other subjects but definitely not in PA and psychology.
Reply
36.
quest4excellence26@gmail.comJuly 4, 2009 at 11:58 AM
hi ma'am ,
I was cheered up when I saw ur blog . I'm ur big fan ..I wanted 2 add u in orkut ,but i
don't know u r e-mail Id ...I shall feel thankful if u cud add me or let me acquaint ur
e-mail .....I 'm there in Surya Pal Gangwar sir's profile ( ani"quest4excellence").......
Ma'am , I 'm in govt. service .... I hav taken 2 yrs study leave especially 4 IAS prep.
...I hav made my mind to enroll myself in any coaching , ur gud self is humbly prayed
to advice me some best reputed instites at delhi ........my optionals are History &
Public Administration .
Best wishes for effective training & good health ,
With warm personal regards, I remain, ma’am ,
yours very sincerely ,
_ anil ,Simla
Reply
37.
kartikeyJuly 4, 2009 at 9:25 PM

hello ma'am,
please tell me, do one require just a pass degree or is there any minimum
percentage required?
Reply
38.
kartikeyJuly 4, 2009 at 9:25 PM
hello ma'am,
please tell me, do one require just a pass degree or is there any minimum
percentage required?
Reply
39.
ShubhraJuly 4, 2009 at 11:06 PM
@Anil
I can guide you here. Not on orkut.
Please go through the posts and you will find most of your questions answered. I can
not recommend anything regarding History as it was not my optional.
Reply
40.
No Kartikey. No percentage requirement is there.
Reply
41.
quest4excellence26@gmail.comJuly 5, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Dee ...thnx 4 guiding me in right direction..

I hav Public Ad. as second optional , I'm studying following basic books in these days
... Plz recommend some standard books 4 main exam. in addition with following
alone with some notes/ guides etc.
1. New Horizons of public administration by
Mohit Bhattacharya
2. Administrative thinkers by Prasad and Prasad
(Theories Part)
3. Public Administration by Sharma and Sadana
4. Public Administration by Avasthi and
Maheshwari
5. Indian Administration by Rajini Goyal and
Arora
6. Introduction to the constitution of India by
D.D.Basu
7. Sachdeva - Social welfare administration
8. Public Policy – R.K Sapru
9. Public Financial Administration –M.J.K
Thavraj
10. Local Government in India – S.R Maheshwari
I don't hav words to appreciate ur gr8ness of showing path to all of us ...but i hav 2
say , " May you make the most of your unique gifts, and may happiness and love
surround you always."
Regards ,
_anil
Reply
42.
I have already given sources in a separate post.
Reply
43.
coolblueJuly 7, 2009 at 7:17 AM

hi shubra
regarding quotes again...
do we need to use quotes it in 200 marks essay paper?
any where in entire IAS exam?
-leave optionals.
I appreciate ur efforts . You are a true manifestation of "serve people"
Reply
44.
you can use quotes in essay.
Reply
45.
quest4excellence26@gmail.comJuly 7, 2009 at 12:17 PM
hi ma'am ,
Kindly advise me of d following quarries :
1.How can I improve my writing & communication skills even better & How Imp. is
speaking good english during an interview ?
2.Is coaching important 4 sure success ?
3.Shud I prepare my own notes ?
4.Can an average student like also compete wid d rest ?
5.Shud I go 4 postal coaching being a govt. employed aspirant ? Plz also suggest sum
notes which can I get through post .
6.How much does a gud biodata matter ?
With fondest regards .
Reply
46.

why are you posting the same questions again ?
Reply
47.
PratapJuly 13, 2009 at 6:17 AM
M'am, you got 140 marks in Essay Paper ? is it possible to secure such admirable
marks while writing in Hindi Medium? Did any Hindi Medium aspirant score ?
Thanking you,
Pratap
Reply
48.
swatiJuly 13, 2009 at 6:20 AM
hello ma'm,
I am swati and as all i am also a civil aspirant.i want to ask you how to prpare for an
essay.does the coaching help in this?how to make the tnformations systematic for
essys and from where to collect these informations?
Reply
49.
@Pratap
I dont know but I am sure ppl with Hindi medium can also score good marks in essay
Reply
50.

I will write about essay in some time.
Reply
51.
himanshuAugust 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Regards!
Maam i do have some questions-
1. We should include figures wherever necessary or we should try to include figures
and other innovations in maximum answers?
2. How many words you wrote in a line and how many lines on a page? In mains they
provided ruled or blank pages?
3. B-copies are provided or not?
Your answers will help me in improving writing and persentation skills leaving no
further doubts.
Honestly i am out of words to express gratitude for the useful post.
Reply
52.
ShubhraAugust 27, 2009 at 5:57 AM
1. wherever necessary and feasible
2. I cant recall, must be 6-8.
3. what are B copies? if u mean supplementary, yes.
4
Reply
53.
himanshuAugust 27, 2009 at 11:09 AM

Yes maam,I did mean supplementary.
Regards!
Reply
54.
rubyAugust 27, 2009 at 9:28 PM
PLEASE give reason to why not to write in points as far as optionals are concerned?
just opposite to general notion of writing better answers.
Reply
55.
ShubhraAugust 28, 2009 at 8:21 AM
That's what is generally held belief that writing in explanatory form is preferable to
writing in points.
If you feel writing in points might be better,you can try that.
Reply
56.
rubyAugust 29, 2009 at 8:58 PM
so nice of you
Reply
57.
alokMay 7, 2011 at 8:55 AM
while writing mains answer should we count words like (the,so,or,a,of,for) or only
words more than 3 letters.

taken from Shubra saxena blog

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