Answer Writing (Descriptive Essay Type) - Tips and Techniques

Descriptive tests are conducted for higher echelon jobs like APPSC Group-I Mains and UPSC Civil Services Mains. Answer writing for Descriptive type tests requires a complete understanding of the question. You should understand tags attached to questions like “Analyse, Critically Analyse, Enumerate, Describe” which changes the answer completely.

Remember that there are so many ways to write an answer to any question. A question can be answered in many ways. But You should know the structure to be followed. Content should be from standard textbooks. You should rely only on standard books and resources instead of guides and coaching materials.

Structure of the Answer

Each answer, in general, comprises three parts viz. Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.

Introduction: Basics or Background of the topic should be written here. One paragraph is sufficient.

Body: It comprises description, advantages/significance/benefits, disadvantages/criticism etc. Depending on the content, you can split the body of the answer into different paragraphs. You can write at least three paragraphs - On the brief description of the topic, advantages/significance, and disadvantages/criticism.

Conclusion: After highlighting both positives and negatives for each answer, a forward-looking conclusion fetches more marks. If the question is on any socio-economic problems of the country/state, then provide a few solutions. Provide solutions from any government report, socio-economic survey, newspapers editorials, etc. One paragraph is sufficient.

Practice Makes Man (Human) Perfect

If you are unable to reproduce the content in the exam, then your entire preparation will become a waste of energy, resources, and time. Hence answer writing plays a crucial part in your preparation. Your answer writing, obviously, will be slow at the start. You may not even be completing half the paper. Practice at least one question per day. Target it to complete in 30 minutes on the first day. Then gradually reduce it to 10 minutes in 15 to 30 days of time.

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