The UPSC Civil Services Essay Paper is a quiet game-changer. Whereas GS papers assess your knowledge, the essay paper tests something more profound — your capacity to think, organize, and express novel, balanced thoughts. Essay is about a long piece of article which demands self-insight, originality and ability to give an analytical view. It demands a different level of writing skill which include not only effective articulation but also giving a logical and coherent view.
Most toppers attribute their rank boosts to high essay scores. Take Anudeep Durishetty (AIR 1, 2017) — he stressed how this particular paper made the difference for him in a close contest. And the good news? With the right approach and persistent practice, you too can ace it.
Why the Essay Paper Matters?
This Paper (Paper-I) carries 250 marks. Scores in essay can decide your rank.You have to write two essays in 3 hours — each about 1000-1200 words.
What UPSC expects isn’t perfect English or literary flair. Instead, it’s about:
- Clear, logical thought flow.
- Balanced arguments.
- Depth of understanding.
- Coherence and originality.
- Relevant, multi-dimensional insights.
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And this is where most aspirants falter — either treating it like a GS answer or over-complicating it with unnecessary jargon.
Step-by-Step Strategy for 120+ Marks:
There have been years where toppers scored 161 also in essay. Vikram Grewal has scored one of the highest marks(161) in essay paper. He explained his strategies clearly. Let’s see from the man himself:
- Minimum of 2 paragraphs per page and a maximum of 20 paragraphs.
- Every paraghraph should talk about something new,of course, not unrelated to the topic. Go with the flow.
- Ensure reference of the theme of the essay by quoting keywords in every paragraph.
- Treat it as a dialogue or conversation with the examiner.
- You are just explaining your point of view to the examiner. So don’t go into too many details. That would break the flow of your essay. Just give genreal P.O.V.
- Underline the important reference like Quotes, books and movies if necessary.
- Pick the topic wisely as you have to spend next 90 minutes with it.
- 15 minutes to write points; 1 hour 10 minutes (max) to write.
- Focus on the topic you chose, not the ones you left.
The trick is just to be as original and authentic as possible, and make your content look like, it isn’t written by an upsc aspirant. The issue with any famous toppers advice is that it gets coopted by so many people it loses its effectiveness, think about this.. if everyone is doing the same thing, what incentive does the examiner have to award you more marks? Your originality matters the most.
The top rules to maximise your score are:
- Know the Evaluation Parameters UPSC essays are marked on:
- Clarity of thought.
- Structure and coherence.
- Balanced analysis.
- Relevance to the topic.
- Originality of ideas.
Avoid common pitfalls:
- GS-style bullet points.
- Extreme views.
- Poor transitions.
- Pre-fabricated essays.
- Do not write your whole optional in Essay paper.
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Intelligent Topic Choice- The Golden Rule:
Choose topics which you can develop from different aspects — social, economic, political, ethical, philosophical.
Tip: Steer clear of purely philosophical topics unless you’re sure.
Example: For 2023’s essay paper, a subject such as “Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opponent” was abstruse but could be approached wonderfully by relating it to democracy (contrasting ideas), individual development (obstacles create strength), and governance reforms (positive criticism creates change).
- Structure Is Half the Battle. Use this 7-Paragraph Model:
- Introduction: Quote, anecdote, or thought-provoking question
- define terms → state thesis.
- Historical Context: 2-3 lines (if applicable).
- Arguments For: 3-4 positives with examples.
- Counterarguments: 3-4 opposing points/issues.
- Balanced Synthesis: Middle-path solution or policy proposal.
- Conclusion: Sum up, finish on a quote, call to action or vision statement.
Live Example: For “Technology is both a boon and a bane,” start with Tim Berners-Lee’s web vision, transition to AI in medicine vs. issues of privacy, propose regulation such as DPDP Act 2023, and end with an Arthur Clarke quote. But you need to explore diverse viewpoints and interlink them with the theme of the essay.
Make Your Essay Stand Out.
Use Multi-Dimensional Linkages: Link sociology, economics, ethics, philosophy, and history.But interlinking is key for maximising scores. Include Fresh, New Examples: Move away from Gandhi, Ambedkar, and Lincoln. Example: In a women empowerment essay, rather than the obvious, state Kerala’s Kudumbashree model — an active, working women-powered poverty elimination project empowering millions.
Insert Data, But Judiciously: Employ 1-2 powerful facts. Example: “India’s AI market is likely to reach $17 billion by 2027” (NASSCOM report) — in a tech-themed essay.
Philosophical Flair: Inclusions of quotes by Tagore, Amartya Sen, or Kautilya add substance to your content.
Remember that your examiner is a highly learnt person. Do not try to bluff.
Time Management Task :
Keep first five minutes for selection of topic. Then 15 minutes to jot down all the points and ensure a link between those points. Next 70 minutes to write the answer. Do not spend more than 90 minutes per essay as this would affect the quality and quantity of your second one.
Pro Tip: The first 10 mins are best spent scribbling 10-15 bullet points — arguments, counterarguments, examples, quotes. Follow it while writing.
- Content Development & Sources Where to Build Content:
- The Hindu & Indian Express editorials.
- Yojana, Kurukshetra, Economic Survey.
- Stories from The Better India website
- Books like The Argumentative Indian (Amartya Sen) and India After Gandhi (Ramachandra Guha).
- Toppers’ essay compilations from Online Sources.
Consistent Practice & Feedback :
Write 1 essay per week. Get it peer-reviewed or evaluated by a mentor. Mock tests like La Excellence IAS simulate exam pressure well. The quality of questions and evaluation matters and La Excellence has subject experts to do that job.
Final Wisdom: What Toppers Know?·
- Depth beats breadth.
- Originality + multidimensional thinking = higher marks.
- Neat, structured presentation matters.
- Avoid political or ideological bias.
- Both essays must have equal effort and thinking.
As Anudeep Durishetty stated: “The Essay Paper is not about flowery language but clarity and originality.”
Scoring 120+ in the Essay Paper isn’t an exclusive privilege of literary maestros. It’s for those who write disciplined, original, and well-balanced — supported by varied knowledge and fresh examples.
As Nelson Mandela aptly said: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
“Write, Write, Rewrite, Unwrite and then Write”.. Essay is like a screenplay of a movie. It should be organic and original. It should be like a patchwork.
You can watch the art of writing philosophical essays here:
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