The UPSC Mains Exam is scheduled be held on October 28, 2017 and the timetable Civil Services IAS Mains Exam is given below.
Step 1: Read
the questions twice and find the keyword in the given questions
Candidates should read the questions
twice and carefully and should determine at least a single keyword in the
question which they know. Candidates’ should know that there will at least two
or three keywords. Once they find the keyword then the can construct the answer
centring the keyword.
Candidates’ should scan the question
thoroughly as just taking a glance at the question is not going to be of any
help. While going through the question, candidates’ should determine at least a
single keyword in the question that they are familiar with and each question
will have at least two or three keywords. Once they identify the keyword then
they can go full throttle centring their answer on that single keyword.
Step 2: Understand the need of the
question
After reading the question twice,
candidates should understand the need of question that is what kind of answer
it requires. Here are some tips on how to attempt a question.
Read the question thoroughly and then
divide the question into parts. Below given is an example:
Several foreigners made India their
homeland and participated in various movements. Analyse their role in the
Indian struggle for freedom. (200 words)
This question was asked in the UPSC
2013 Civil Services Mains Exam.
IAS Aspirants can break this question
into two parts like
First part - Foreigners who
participated in India’s freedom struggle
Second part - their role in the
Indian struggle for freedom
By dividing the questions, it makes
easier for candidates to attempt the question and meet the demand.
Step 3: What if the question is tough?
Do not panic.
What if
candidates come across questions that are tough, all we advise is don’t panic
and maintain your calm.
When you
lose your calm you tend to forget what you have studied and further making it
complicated, which you should never entertain especially in the UPSC Exam Hall.
One should
think in this way, there are other candidates’ as well in the examination hall who
may find the same. Candidates’ should always keep in mind that success in mains
exam depends not on answering the vague or ambiguous questions but not missing
the easiest and most general questions that are answered in the simplest and
most straight ward way.
Step 4: Draw flowcharts, charts,
diagrams but draw something
When we say draw something it means draw
flowchart, charts, and diagram that is relevant to the question, which will enhance your answer
and fetch you that extra marks.
Candidates’ should not worry about
their drawing skills as the examiner will see how you have justifies the facts
and figures in the diagram.
It is always an added advantage to
include relevant flowcharts, charts, and diagrams wherever necessary.
Also, a note to candidates’ not to overdo
with diagrams or just give diagrams as it is just an addition to your answer
but not an alternative answer.
Step 5: Keep the word limit and time
limit in mind
Each General Studies Paper of the
UPSC Mains Exam has 25 questions and each question should be answered in
200-250 words and all the 25 questions should be answered within the stipulated
time of 3 hours.
Candidates should ensure that they
spend approximately 7-8 minutes to answer a 10-mark question, the time may vary
below above but not beyond it and one should have answered 4 questions in 30
minutes. And, if they have not, we would advise to pull up their sock and jump
in the race to stay ahead in the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
Step 6: If consecutively questions
are tough
As the candidates open the question
paper and see the first page and find the first question tough and the
following few consecutive questions the same then don’t panic. Here, we advise
if the first few questions are tough then start with the last question and starting
attempting questions in the reverse order. This technique will work and after
attempting few question they may feel confident by the time they the first page
of the question again.
Step 7: The 7-5-3 Rule for UPSC Mains
Answer Writing
Following this one rule will make candidates’
to attempt all the questions without any difficult if and only if they have
followed this rule during their answer writing practice in UPSC Exam Preparation.
Here’s how the 7-5-3 rule works.
Read the question carefully at least
twice
Break the question into two parts
Identify the keyword
Know the question type
Build the answer around the keyword
by writing 5 points in bullet-list style. Based on the question type write an
explanation on each point in 3 dimensions, like
1.
Social, Economic, Political and
Geographical perspective
2.
For, against, and conclusion
3.
What/Why/How
Finally, the candidates’ should have
finished their answer in 7 minutes.
This is the simple 7-5-3 rule for
answer writing in UPSC Mains Exam
·
Finish the answer in 7 minutes
·
Write 5 points on the identified
keyword
·
Explain each point in 3 dimensions
depending on the nature of the question
Step 8: Do
not underestimate yourself during the exam
Eventually, how much ever a candidate
is prepared; naturally they become nervous as they enter the UPSC Exam Hall,
especially the first-timers who are writing the mains exam for the first time.
All we advise candidates is to keep their nerves calm as most of the candidates
who clear the exam are with average grades in their qualification and who have
half your knowledge. Hence, candidates’ should stay positive and have nerves of
steel to handle when they tremble any moment in the exam hall.
These are the crucial 8 steps, which
every IAS aspirant writing the UPSC 2017 Mains Exam should follow and following
which we bet they will get an edge over the other aspirants’.
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