How many essays come in UPSC?

In the UPSC Mains exam, candidates must write two essays, one from each of two sections (A and B), each essay needing to be around 1000-1200 words, for a total of 250 marks (125 marks per essay) within a three-hour time limit. Each section typically offers four topics, requiring candidates to choose one from each to demonstrate analytical skills and coherent expression.

How many essays are in UPSC?

The Essay Paper is one of the nine papers in the UPSC civil services mains exam. In this paper, you will have to write two essays, each with a word count of 1000–1200. One topic can be selected from a choice of four topics. The Essay Paper is for a total of 250 marks, with one essay for 125 marks.

What is the 7 5 3 rule in UPSC?

The 7-5-3 technique is a simple framework that helps UPSC aspirants structure their answers in a logical and impactful way. 7 – Write 7 points in the body of your answer. 5 – Finish your answer in 5 paragraphs (Intro, Body – 3 Paras, Conclusion).

Who got 175 marks in essay UPSC?

Apurva Pandey is a ForumIAS Academy Student. She has secured Rank 39 and is the Topper from Uttarakhand. She has secured 175 marks in Essay which is the highest score this year among selected candidates.

What is the 80 20 rule for UPSC?

The 80/20 UPSC principle, inspired by the Pareto Principle, suggests that roughly 20% of the syllabus fetches nearly 80% of the marks. Understanding this distribution is the real secret behind efficient, innovative, and strategic preparation.

My UPSC Essay Score, Strategy and Evaluation

Who is the rank 1 girl in UPSC?

Shakti Dubey emerged as the All India Rank 1 holder for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. She is the top-ranked candidate among the 1009 successful aspirants. In fact, she is the top female candidate to secure All India Rank 1 in UPSC in the past few years.

How to clear UPSC in 1st attempt?

Important Tips to Remember – 1st Attempt at UPSC Civil Service Exam

1. Know the UPSC exam pattern and syllabus.
2. Learn the UPSC syllabus thoroughly.
3. Get the right books and material.
4. Get the current affairs notes up-to-date.
5. Practice mock tests.
6. Practice answer writing for the mains.

Is 800 a good score in UPSC?

Generally, a score of 800 may be considered good if it falls within or above the cutoff range for the UPSC Civil Services Exam for that year. Subject and Paper Weightage: Different papers and optional subjects have different weightages.

What is the score of Srushti Deshmukh?

With a total score of 1068 marks, including outstanding performances in subjects like the Essay paper and Optional-1 (Sociology), Srushti's achievement underscored her remarkable intellect and dedication to excellence.

How much is 250 words in UPSC?

Generally, 250 words mean that you must write around 2.5 pages in UPSC Mains. Use the space wisely, leaving room for neat margins and clear headings. Keeping your answer structured will help examiners quickly grasp your main arguments.

How to write fast in UPSC?

How to Develop Writing Speed for UPSC Essays Without Losing...

1. Practice Handwriting Regularly. ...
2. Create a Quick Outline Before Writing. ...
3. Use Simple and Direct Language. ...
4. Time Management During the Exam. ...
5. Write from Your Knowledge Base. ...
6. Develop a Consistent Writing Style. ...
7. Use Abbreviations and Symbols (Where Appropriate)

How to calculate UPSC score?

Correct answers 75 x 2 = 150 marks. Each incorrect answer carries a negative marking of o. 33%, which means for every wrong answer 0.66 marks will be deducted. Therefore, in the above example if 25 questions were answered incorrectly then the negative marking for 25 incorrect answers would be 25 x 0.66 = 16.5.

What are the 4 main types of essays?

Understanding the 4 main types of essays — narrative, descriptive, expository, and argumentative — can dramatically improve your writing skills.

What are common mistakes in UPSC essays?

One of the most common mistakes in UPSC answer writing is not understanding the directive words in the question. These words, like 'analyze,' 'discuss,' or 'critically evaluate,' guide you on how to frame your answer. Ignoring these words can lead to irrelevant answers and cost you precious marks.

What are the 26 optional subjects in UPSC?

The 26 optional subjects in UPSC are Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, ...

What are 9 papers in UPSC?

The 9 papers in IAS Exam (Mains) are as follows: Paper-A (Compulsory Indian Language); Paper –B (English) which are qualifying in nature, while the other papers like Essay, General Studies Papers I, II, III, and IV, and Optional Papers I and II are considered for the final ranking.

How much did Tina Dabi score?

In the UPSC Civil Services Examination, she secured 868 marks in the written exam and 195 in the personality test, bringing her total to an impressive 1063 marks. According to media reports, Tina cleared the UPSC exam on her very first attempt at the age of just 22.

Who is the No. 1 IAS officer?

The IAS Rank 1 for the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 is Shakti Dubey, who secured the top position with 1043 total marks, choosing Political Science & International Relations as her optional subject. She is from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and this was her fifth attempt, making her a significant inspiration for aspirants, following previous toppers like Shruti Sharma (2021) and Shubham Kumar (2020). 

Is UPSC 2025 prelims tough?

Ans. The UPSC Prelims 2025 exam, conducted on 25th May 2025, was generally considered moderately challenging. General Studies Paper 1 emphasized analytical and application-based questions across subjects like Polity, Geography, History, Economy, and Current Affairs.

What is the pass percentage of UPSC?

Usually, around 1 million students attempt the exam every year. However, only 0.2% of all candidates pass the exam.

Is PT 365 sufficient for prelims?

Nearly 40 to 50 questions in Prelims directly or indirectly assess contemporary knowledge. PT365 tracks these patterns and ensures important topics get adequate coverage.

Who cleared UPSC in 4 months?

Simi Karan and Taruni Pandey both achieved remarkable success in the UPSC civil services examination with just four months of preparation, scoring all-India ranks of 31 and 14 respectively.

What skills are needed for UPSC?

Skills required for UPSC include analytical thinking, critical evaluation, effective communication, time management, and ethical reasoning. Developing these core competencies for UPSC through focused practice strengthens overall UPSC preparation.