Essay Writing

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UPSC IAS Essay writing

UPSC Civil Service Mains Paper 1 (also called as Essay Paper) is now of 250 marks. Candidates may be required to write UPSC IAS essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression. Try now by subscribing to Vignan IAS Weekly UPSC IAS Essay writing now:

Writing a good essay is not always easy. Vignan IAS provides weekly UPSC IAS essay writing for right approach and good practice. But it has been observed that 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 GS Mains and learn the art of writing a good essay.

How to boost your score in UPSC IAS Essay Writing?

  • Try to write a offline UPSC Essay in full during your preparation, simulating the environment in the examination hall.
  • Familiarize yourself with previous essays asked by UPSC so that you will have a clear picture about the type and standard of questions to be expected.
  • UPSC the examiner normally gives credit to new perspectives and fresh analysis.
  • Avoid verbosity and flowery language. Use a simple style instead.
  • You may use relevant quotes to reinforce your arguments. But never try to alter the quotes of great personalities.
  • A good handwriting is always an asset. If you handwriting is not legible, put some efforts in that area.
  • Make your statements precise. Avoid guesses.
  • The introductory paragraph should have clear indications about what you are going to write in the essay.
  • You may show your inferences in the concluding paragraph.

How to write a good essay in Civil Service Mains Exam?

  • Make a framework (blueprint) of the essay you are going to write first.
  • Our advice would be to use simple language. As Anton Chekov once said ‘Brevity is the sister of talent’.
  • The idea of using ornamental language to showcase your English vocabulary may backfire at times. But, don’t make your essay sound like a General Studies answer.
  • If the introduction can generate a curiosity in the reader, that would be great.
  • There should be a logical continuation from beginning to end.
  • The essay should be organized in well-structured paragraphs coherent with the flow of the essay.
  • Don’t be too aggressive or pessimistic in your tone.
  • Come up with good points and express new viewpoints.
  • Go through well-written essays by experts in newspapers and magazines, and understand how they frame the ‘Introduction’ and ‘Conclusion’ paragraphs.
  • In most cases, there will not be any need for separate coaching or preparation for essays, and candidates’ reading and preparation for General Studies Mains should suffice. But make sure you’re writing and analytical skills are up to the UPSC expectations; if not, polish it.
  • Write mock essays and get it evaluated by experts in the field.

Few previous year UPSC essay papers

Previous Essay questions asked in UPSC (Mains) Examination

Write an essay on any one of the following topics:

  1. In the context of Gandhiji’s views on the matter, explore, on an evolutionary scale, the terms ‘Swadhinata’, ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Dharmarajya’. Critically comment on their contemporary relevance to Indian democracy.
  2. Is the criticism that the ‘Public-Private-Partnership’ (PPP) model for development is more of a bane than a boon in the Indian context, justified?
  3. Science and Mysticism: Are they compatible?
  4. Managing work and home – is the Indian working women getting a fair deal?
  5. Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmental implications.
  6. Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it?
  7. Credit-based higher education system –status, opportunities, and challenges.
  8. In the Indian context, both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial and combating terrorism.

How much is a good score in UPSC CSE Essay paper?

As the essay paper is out of 250, marks which are above 50% can be considered good, ie. 125.

Marks between 110-125 is considered as average.

Marks in the range 150-160 are possible for exceptional essays.

Note: UPSC may award poorly written essays marks as low as ‘0’ or ’20’. So beware and pay sufficient attention to proper practice.

How Vignan IAS Offline Test Series works ?

  • Student can enroll for Essay writing Test series with VIA
  • Register online or walk in to Vignan IAS Academy Campus at HSR layout
  • Every register students will have unique Login ID
  • Submit your weekly UPSC IAS essay writing answers and get reviewed from Senior faculties
  • Test yourself on your approach and content
  • Get one-on-one feedback with tips, tricks and suggestions

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