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GS vs Optional Answer Writing

Hi All, You must have heard that optional answer writing and GS answer writing are 2 different Poles. Let us analyze the reality. Traditional View: The 2 differ to massive extent. Write in points in GS and in Paragraphs in Optional. Innovate in GS. Innovation is a grey area in…

Decode Civils · 1 min read
GS vs Optional Answer Writing

Hi All,

You must have heard that optional answer writing and GS answer writing are 2 different Poles. Let us analyze the reality.

Traditional View:

  • The 2 differ to massive extent.
  • Write in points in GS and in Paragraphs in Optional.
  • Innovate in GS. Innovation is a grey area in optionals.
  • Do not use technical words of optional in GS.

New Trend:

Have you noted the fact that off late, first timers are scoring higher marks in optional than 'veterans'?

Yes! Newbies are scoring more, especially in popular/humanities subjects like Sociology, Geography, Public Administration, PSIR etc.

Possible Reason:

  • Demands of answer writing are changing.
  • Focus is shifting from depth to multiplicity of dimensions.
  • Focus is now on innovation and presentation.

According to above, the current view is:

  • Innovation is need of hour. Doesn't matter if it is GS or Optional. Draw diagrams in Optional even if your optional is philosophy!
  • Write a mix of paragraphs-points-bullets in Optionals. Times have changed. Pure paragraph based answers are things of past.
  • Focus on dimensions rather than depth. Write various aspects of an issue rather than focussing too much over one aspect.
  • Make use of GS in your optional answers. For example, in history optional, if you are asked about some doctrine then conclude with recent doctrines like Asia Pivot.
  • In GS, there is no harm in using technical lingo. I used it in GS-1 and scored well in all attempts.

Hence, in my view, the line between the 2 is thin and is narrowing down further. Innovation is the key.

ATB

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