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Let’s be real—this paper is not the toughest part of UPSC, but it’s dangerous because if you fail, your entire attempt is wasted. The good news? You don’t need fancy English or high-level writing skills. The goal is simple: just qualify (get at least 75 marks out of 300) and move on to the real game.
So, let’s break it down in a way that actually helps.
You’ll see four main sections:
Essay Writing – One long essay (600-800 words) on a general topic.
Precis Writing – Summarizing a given passage in about one-third of its length.
Reading Comprehension – A passage followed by some questions.
Grammar & Vocabulary – Fill in the blanks, sentence correction, synonyms/antonyms, etc.
No rocket science here. It’s basic school-level English. You’ve written all of this before! The only challenge is doing it without silly mistakes and in a structured way.
One big mistake aspirants make is trying to sound too intellectual. You don’t need complicated vocabulary or overly flowery language. Just write clearly and logically.
How to approach an essay?
Intro: Introduce the topic in 3-4 simple sentences.
Main Body: Explain the issue with examples and arguments. Keep paragraphs short.
Conclusion: Wrap it up with a strong closing statement.
Example Topics (Very Common in UPSC):
The Role of Technology in Education
Climate Change and Its Impact on India
Women Empowerment and Indian Society
The Pros and Cons of Social Media
Extra Tip: If you’re stuck, imagine explaining the topic to a friend. What would you say? That’s what you should write!
Precis writing is just summarizing a passage in a limited number of words. The problem? Most people either copy sentences from the passage or cut down too much and lose meaning.
How to do it right?
Read the passage carefully and underline the main points.
Rewrite in your own words—don’t just lift lines from the passage.
Cut out unnecessary details, examples, and adjectives.
Keep the same tone as the original passage.
Extra Tip: When practicing, count the words in the passage. If it’s 300 words, your summary should be around 100 words (one-third rule).
Reading comprehension is straightforward, but the problem is running out of time because some passages are long. The trick? Don’t read line by line like a novel.
Best way to approach comprehension:
Read the questions first before reading the passage. This helps you focus.
Underline key points while reading.
Write answers in your own words, not copied from the passage.
Don’t overthink—if an answer seems simple, it probably is.
Extra Tip: Get into the habit of reading newspaper editorials (like in The Hindu or Indian Express). It will make comprehension questions easier and improve your general awareness too.
This section is mostly fill-in-the-blanks, sentence correction, and word meanings. It’s not about knowing fancy words—it’s about avoiding basic grammar mistakes.
What to revise?
Tenses (Past, Present, Future) – Many people mess this up.
Prepositions (in, on, at, by, etc.) – Tricky but important.
Commonly confused words – Affect vs. Effect, Principle vs. Principal.
Sentence structure & punctuation – Avoid run-on sentences and silly mistakes.
Extra Tip: If your grammar is weak, use Grammarly (even the free version) while typing on your laptop. It’ll correct your mistakes and teach you along the way.
Practicing actual past papers is the fastest way to improve. Why? Because you’ll see repeated patterns in questions.
Start with the last 5 years’ papers.
Set a timer and practice under exam conditions.
Check your answers and understand what you got wrong.
Extra Tip: If you can’t find previous papers easily, download them from the official UPSC website.
Writing overcomplicated essays – Keep it simple and readable.
Ignoring word limits – Don’t write too much or too little.
Copy-pasting in precis writing – Always use your own words.
Skipping grammar rules – Small errors can cost you marks.
Untidy handwriting – If the examiner can’t read your answer, you’re in trouble!
Remember, this is just a qualifying paper. You don’t need high marks—just enough to clear it. So don’t overcomplicate things. Write in simple, correct English, and you’ll be fine.
