Mastering Mains

If there is one stage of UPSC Civil Services Exam which decides your selection, that is the Mains examination. In the three stage pattern for UPSC CSE, Prelims is more of a weeding out exercise, where you have to just ensure to get across the cut-off line. Personality test or the Interview is a high scoring opportunity. But in the overall scheme of CSE, Interview accounts for 275 marks out of 2075 i.e. 13.25% marks. Plus you also need to clear the Mains cut-off. Moral of the story: In order to get selected in CSE, you need to do really well in Mains. Mains forms the foundation of your performance in CSE. And then you can build up on Mains performance to score well in Interview which will help to improve the rank. So let us revisit the strategy to tackle Mains. I must admit the strategy discussed in this article is no panacea or Gurumantra. These are some observations from my personal experiences with UPSC CSE. You can modify them according to your own style of studying.

So let us begin with the very basic issues. First and foremost thing is to ‘understand’ the syllabus properly. Go through the syllabus in details. Always keep a copy of syllabus with you while studying. In fact, after a few months you should have the syllabus at the tip of tongue. Before reading any topic or article from books, newspapers, magazines, internet just check to which topics of syllabus it is concerned with. For freshers, it is a good idea to google the phrases in the syllabus to get a clear picture. This is very useful in Optionals where it is very important to go clearly understand the concepts. Most importantly, knowing the syllabus defines the boundaries of your study.

Alongside this, go through the UPSC question papers of minimum last 5 years. This will give you an idea of what UPSC asks about the syllabus topics. If some question banks are available, use them resourcefully. Some publications have come out with booklets having UPSC questions which are sorted topic-wise. These booklets can be very handy and useful.

Next just prepare a list of sources you plan to use for each of these topics. Normally there will be one or two books which will cover 70-80% of the syllabus of that subject- let us call them Primary reference books. Mark these books first. For the remaining few topics, decide broadly what source you are going to use. Now be careful that you don’t waste days and weeks in deciding this list. Start as soon as you decide on the primary reference book. Some sources you may not get initially. Those you can always look for after starting with the study. Further if you come across some other reference books of same subject, just see whether there is something new from syllabus as compared to your primary reference book. Mark those topics and study them only. These will be your secondary reference books. You can also refer these books for topics which you feel are not covered satisfactorily in your primary reference book. But always remember that there is no point reading same topic from 3-4 books.

Next comes the technique of study. Here you must remember that the entire focus of your study should be to equip yourself with the skill to write a ‘quality’ answer on that particular topic. So let us imagine the whole process. First of all, take a topic from syllabus. Then read the primary reference book or source that is already identified. You can use underlining during the first reading or during a quick second revision. Once you feel that you are getting what is written there, refer to the question papers/ question banks you have and pick up at least one question. Attempt that question without referring the book, no matter what quality is that answer. This answer maybe in points format, if you find it better. You may feel embarrassed looking at the answer, but the idea here is to get oneself exposed. And keep this answer in a file. Keep on updating on the same paper whenever you get a new point about that topic, or when you find out some case study or linkage regarding that answer. Let these answers be your ‘Notes’ instead of copying or summarizing books in the name of notes making.

After doing this exercise for a week, quickly revise the topics studied in the weekend. Revision should not become re-reading. While revising, focus only on those parts which you found difficult during answer writing. During revisions you can pick up questions accounting for 80-90 marks and try to write them down in 1 hour, simulating a test. Again don’t hold back and write whatever you can. This 1 hour simulation per week in the initial days will build the foundation of your answer writing during exams. As you move ahead in preparation, increase the frequency of this simulation- maybe twice or thrice a week. The duration can be increased to 2 hours-160-170 m and then to 3 hours-250 m full papers. Try to write as many answers as possible. Writing full answer is not possible for all questions. But at least make a habit of mentally sketching a framework of Introduction-Content-Conclusion-Value addition for every question you come across.

If you have a good and sincere group (which focuses on only study and nothing else), you can share the answer-notes and prepare a model draft answer-note. Work on introduction, conclusion, case studies, linkages in this model answer so that you will have these value additions ready, instead of doing this in the exam hall. Now very frankly, these things I am suggesting here are quite ideal type. But at least try to pick up some things which you find relevant and try them out.

With these things in mind, let us turn our focus on some pertinent issues about answer writing. Any opinion-based answer we write in Mains must be ‘balanced’. However most of us end up writing a ‘confused’ answer instead of a balanced one. A balanced answer does not mean that you have to give equal support to both sides. In my opinion, a balanced answer is one in which we justify one view which we support. Then just mention that there exists another side too, in short and end the answer by stating your stand again.

Another major issue is about finding the ‘focus’ of the question. Give due attention to the question word e.g. Describe, Analyze, Compare etc. These words are certainly important to find the exact focus and requirements of the answer. As a practical tip, it is advisable to deliberately use the key-words in questions in your answer. This will help you to keep the answer on track.

Further, the answer for GS and Optional papers needs to be different. A GS answer should be written in such a way that any well-read person (practically speaking the examiner) can understand easily. It should not be loaded with technical terms or jargon. For optional, use jargons and theories of that subject wherever possible. This shows your knowledge of that subject. In short, your optional answer should be difficult to understand for a person with other optional.

It is not enough to write answer to fetch good marks. Diagrams, flow-charts, maps certainly add value to answers. It is a good habit to have relevant diagrams in the answer. But this does not mean that you should flood your answer-sheet with diagrams. Ideally, you do not need to write in words what is clearly shown in diagram or flow-chart. Another factor adding a lot of value to your answer and making it outstanding is Current Affairs. Try to start the answer or conclude it with a relevant current event. This really packs the punch and adds those deciding extra marks. Especially, in Optionals it is always better to use recent case studies from current affairs (also in GS). Try to inculcate the habit of reading news with a thought of where it can be used in answers.

Finally let us discuss briefly about the different papers in Mains, with the most neglected language papers first. The language papers- Compulsory English and Indian language- are relatively easy but may be very tricky sometimes. Best strategy to deal with them is to solve a few papers from previous exams. Chalk out a strategy about what sequence you will follow. Ideally finish this off immediately after the prelims.

Essay is a very crucial factor in Mains. With two 125 marks essay, it is important to keep a watch on time and quality of both the essays. An essay should a complete piece of work, and not an answer. A good introduction, relevant value additions and a strong, constructive conclusion are the basic requirements of an essay. Best way to prepare for essay is to be very good at GS basics and write at least one full essay every 7 or 15 days. For all the relevant topics, have your mindmaps ready.

Coming to the GS papers, GS I is a more of bookish paper. Be good in the factual details and concepts of GS I. For Geography, try to go into details of Human Geography. From Culture and heritage, focus on the topics from current events. In History concentrate on the culture related aspects from ancient and medieval History. From World History and Post-independence India, focus more on broader themes and important events. But Modern History is one part you need to be thorough with. For the Social aspects in the syllabus, try to be clear with concepts and then work on the issues in current happenings.

GS II is more of an analytical affair. Here firstly get well versed with the Constitution. For the Governance related issues, focus on current events and the Government publications. Focus more on the development, welfare and vulnerable sections part. For these topics, use India year book smartly. International Relations topics are quite interesting but need good understanding of the issues. For this, an understanding of history is much required. Keep on tracking the newspapers and magazines for IR issues.

GS III is a semi-technical paper. In Economics the most important thing is to have complete clarity in concepts. Budget and Economic Survey give really good inputs in Economy. Developmental aspects can be covered well from Yojana and India year book. For Science-Technology, work on the Hindu Thursday Sci-Tech page. Matters of scientific policy, research institutions and innovation are gaining more importance recently. For Environment, be clear with basic issues and international agreements. Factual information helps a lot in Biodiversity topics. For Agriculture related topics, go for selective reading of Kurukshetra. Also look out for initiatives by Government in farm sector. Infrastructure part can be best covered in Economic Survey. Here you will need recent statistical data to add a punch in answers. For Internal Security, focus on current affairs. IDSA website can be very handy for this topic.

GS IV is an entirely different playground. For Part I, you need a good understanding of the philosophies and concepts. But the real scoring pitch is that of case studies in Part II. Give theoretical backing and practical perspectives in case study answers. Remember that Ethics is probably the best paper to score.

Finally coming to Optional, always remember that the theories and thinkers form the foundation of that subject. Use them whenever you find them relevant. Get a good conceptual understanding and keep looking for case studies. While writing answers, do not restrict yourself to Paper I or II or even to one chapter. Let the answer be a complete answer from the broader perspective of that subject. Identify the special skills required for that particular subject and try to master it viz. Mapping in Geography, Interpretation of questions in Public Administration, Critiques in Literature papers etc.

Finally, I would like to share some basic tenets which I observed about Mains. For Mains, think more than you read. Try to work on information processing and practice. While writing answers, stick to the basics. Write in a structured, reader-friendly way and try to cover as much paper as possible. End your answer on a positive note with some constructive suggestions. More than word limit or space limit, follow time limit. Remember that time management is a very crucial factor in Mains.

So it should be very clear that one must attempt Mains exam whole heartedly and positively. Many of us get nervous during Mains; it is natural. But don’t let this nervousness turn into anxiety or stress. Mains can be an enjoyable experience for you if you face it cheerfully. Try to fight for every single mark. As they say in Cricket, keep getting singles-doubles if not fours and sixes. And given the miserly nature of UPSC in giving marks, even 1 or 2 marks in CSE can make a great difference in result.

Mains is a test not only of your academic intelligence but also of mental fitness and emotional strength. We all put huge efforts in academic parts. Now we just need to take care of the mental strength to face this interesting exam. This is a challenge. Take it with sportsmanship. Feel the excitement before the exam with enthusiasm, optimism and cheerfulness, and convert it into a brilliant performance. Good Luck!!