Now that you have cleared the UPSC Prelims, it is time to prepare for the UPSC Mains. It may sound easy, but preparing for the UPSC Mains requires a lot of hard work, perseverance, and consistency. If you think you can cover the UPSC Mains overnight, it is impossible. Also, studying for only the last few months will yield nothing. Therefore, after your UPSC Prelims are over, instead of taking a long rest, invest your time preparing for the UPSC Mains.
In the UPSC Mains, there are nine papers, out of which there is an essay paper where candidates are asked to write essays on topics provided in the question paper. The essay paper consists of 250 marks. Until 2013, the UPSC candidates had to write only one essay in three hours. However, after 2013, as per the UPSC syllabus, now candidates appearing for the UPSC Mains are asked to write two essays in three hours on the various topics that they are provided with.
UPSC Essay Paper Pattern
To ace the essay paper in the UPSC Mains exam, it is imperative for all the UPSC aspirants to know the essay paper pattern. Each UPSC candidate is asked to write two essays of 1000 to 1200 words each.
The essays are divided into two sections – Section A and Section B. In each of these sections, four essay topics are provided. Out of these topics, each IAS candidate has to choose one essay topic from each section. Each essay consists of 125 marks, therefore, summing up to 250 marks in total.
To get a better score, you ought to write good essays, which can be made possible by sitting for the essay test series organized by different IAS Coaching Centers in Delhi.
Development of good essays
Many candidates falter in the essay paper only because they are unaware of the points or elements that make an excellent essay. Given below is the genesis of a good essay that needs to be incorporated while writing essays for the UPSC exam:
· An essay is a write-up where the ideas are organized systematically and presented according to the given topic.
· To write a good essay, it has to be structured well and presented to make it easy for the readers to read and understand. In short, the essay should be written in a manner that looks neat and tidy enough and free from obstacles to be read at ease.
· The essay should be written in a manner that is interesting and readable. Besides the style of the essay, it should consist of all the ideas about the issue that concerns the essay.
· To write a good essay, one has to prepare well. This can only be achieved by rigorous practice. The more one practices writing essays, the more will one be able to clarify the thoughts that one has while forming an essay.
· You cannot aim to write good essays overnight. It needs preparation that should be undertaken before the examination. The earlier you start preparing, the earlier you learn to write good essays.
· Since writing holds the key to preparing a good essay, the better you write, you can get better marks.
· Further, in an essay, all candidates are asked to express their thoughts as clearly as possible. This means the essays should not be written in a manner that makes it almost impossible for the reader or examiner to understand your point of view. If the candidate's opinion is not legible, then writing the essay is of no use.
· It is better to prepare beforehand instead of gathering the necessary information and facts that the essay demands at the last minute. This will give you a lot of scope to think broadly, and therefore, you can prepare a better piece.
· If you lack adequate scores in the general studies and optional papers, do not think the essay paper can manage it.
· The entire essay should be divided into paragraphs. Each one of the paragraphs should be connected to another. This will show that the essay has a flow and that the ideas are arranged in a synchronized format.
Structure of a good essay to be followed for UPSC
In the UPSC Mains essay paper, you have to follow this structure while writing an essay:
a. Introduction
An introduction of an essay is like its face. In the introduction, you introduce the subject or topic you have chosen for the essay to the reader. Hence, you have to be very clear about your thoughts here.
When writing the introduction of an essay, remember that you have to impress the examiner with the introduction. Honestly, none of the examiners have an entire day to read each and every word in the essay. Therefore, all they look for in an essay is a solid introduction and other related points. Therefore, writing a good introduction is a must.
b. Body
The body of an essay is the primary part that discusses the points of the essay in details. Here, the opinions you have regarding the topic you chose for the essay are to be discussed. Highlighted all the points in a synchronized manner so that they do not look forced or overlap with each other. In the body, one can also elaborate the points by referring to some examples or anecdotes as and when required.
c. Conclusion
Finally comes the conclusion where the candidates have to write the final part in such a manner that it creates a lasting impression on the minds of the examiner. Here, the candidate has to take a stand that should appear future-oriented. The examiner expects the candidates to provide a concrete solution to the issue that they have taken up.
Conclusion
Therefore, writing good essays in the UPSC Exam is not an easy job, provided you have a thorough practice of writing. To write better, you have to read more. Therefore, gather more knowledge to produce them in the paper.