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[Tips] Nine Types of Questions in UPSC Mains Exam:
How to write answers?
This article was originally written by Sivaharimani on ioforum way back in 2007.
1. 9 types of Questions in Mains Exam
2. Break the Question in 3 parts
3. 7 steps answer writing
9 types of Questions in Mains Exam
In UPSC Civil service Mains exam, by and large youll face these nine types of
descriptive questions:
Question is
instructing you to
What should you do?
Discuss
Give both the positive and negative points(prelution and
conclusion are must)
Describe
focuss should be only on that particular subject matter(for
ex: e-governance only)(prelution is must but conclusion
is your optional)
Explain
the answer should be based on answering in detail Why,
How, for what, of that subject of the question.ie., we
have to give all the important points.(prelution and
conclusion are must)
Distinguish
answer should be based on How the suject of question
differs from otherthings.(only prelution is must)
Differentiate
there should be detailed comparision and
distinguishing(as said above) the subject of question with
others.(only prelution is must)
Examine
the answer should consist of the how good, what
disadvantages, what impact of the subject of question.
Enumerate
first list out the all the relevant points, then explain one
by one.(prelution and conclusion are must)
Reason
Find out what is the correct reason for the subject and
explain one by one without side heading but highlighting
the point with dots or numbers.(only prelution)
Analyse
try to give your view with future impact and goods and
bads.(both prelution and conclusion are must)
Break the Question in 3 parts
First step is break the question into its configuration parts.
For example, consider this question asked in General Studies (Mains) exam of
2004
Discuss the e-governance in Indian context
Lets start the process of breaking this question.
a. Focus on topic on e-governance (subject of question)
b. How to do in the cotext of india(base of question)
c. What to do dicussing the positive and negative points of view(tool of
question)
7 steps answer writing
1. Find out the conclusive theme, when you read the question at first.
2. Write shortly what is meant by e-governance(should be ideal/neutral)
3. Directly go to the discussion neutrally.
4. Try to begin with the positive points
5. Give a negative point only after a positive point. This shows you to the
evaluator that you are on the correct way of the answering the question and
understood the question perfectly.
6. Carefully keep the word limit
7. At the end, give a finishing touch with the positive points. Why because, the
evaluator provide marks only at the end of the answer, if you do so, it will
make a good impression in the minds of the evaluator. Then we will get
more and plus marks.
8. Draw a conclusion in accordance with your answer. Do not give your
suggestion but give the existing fact with currant context of India. Worth
noting when handling a question(what you are asked to do)