Mains strategy
UPSC Mains Answer Writing: A 90-Day Plan
Mains is a writing test. In 90 days of deliberate practice you can move from blank-page panic to finishing all 20 questions with structured answers.
Pragnya IAS Academy, Hyderabad · Updated 7 October 2026 · 8 min read
The format you are writing for
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions per GS paper | 20 (all compulsory) |
| Marks and word limits | 10 marks / 150 words; 15 marks / 250 words |
| Time | 3 hours — about 7–8 minutes per 10-marker, 11–12 per 15-marker |
| Total written marks | 1,750 (Essay, GS I–IV, Optional I–II) |
A structure that works for most questions
- Introduction (2–3 lines): a definition, a fact, a recent event or a constitutional provision.
- Body: address every part of the question demand — 'discuss', 'critically examine', 'evaluate' each need different handling.
- Use sub-headings, short points, and a flowchart, map or table where it saves words.
- Add value: a committee recommendation, Supreme Court judgment, data point or example from Telangana/AP.
- Conclusion (2–3 lines): balanced, forward-looking, linked to a goal such as SDGs or constitutional values.
The 90-day plan
| Phase | Daily target | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–30 | 2–3 answers, untimed | Understanding demand words; structure; introductions and conclusions |
| Days 31–60 | 5 answers, timed | Speed, diagrams, value addition, topic coverage across GS I–IV |
| Days 61–90 | 1 full paper every 2–3 days | Finishing all 20 questions; handling unknown questions; review |
Why evaluation matters more than volume
Writing a thousand answers without feedback repeats the same mistakes a thousand times. Have each answer reviewed for content gaps, structure and presentation, rewrite the weakest ones, and keep an error log you read before every test.
Pragnya IAS Academy's Mains mentorship offers daily evaluated answer writing and one-to-one feedback, and our daily current affairs pages each end with a Mains question and model answer for practice.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start answer writing?
Start as soon as you finish a subject's basics — ideally a year before Mains, not after Prelims.
Should I use bullet points or paragraphs?
A mix works best: short paragraphs for introduction and conclusion, points with sub-headings in the body.
Are diagrams necessary?
Not necessary, but a simple map, flowchart or table often earns marks and saves time.
How do I finish all 20 questions?
Practise timed papers, stick to word limits and attempt every question — even a partial answer earns marks.