What are ‘directive words’ in a UPSC Mains question paper and how do they help in scoring well?

#1 EXPLAIN

Whenever we encounter “Explain” as the directive word, an aspirant is expected to tell how, why, and when something happened. The core focus of the directive word “Explain” is to break down the answer into the simplest format to make it easier for the examiner to understand. In other words, the directive word “Explain” directs us to give a detailed account of the topic asked. Another aspect that needs to be addressed in such directive words is the balance between the negative and the positive sides of the topic. Though not water-tight, it is advisable to devote 70% of the word limit to the positive side and the remaining 30% of the word limit to the negative side of the topic. In the conclusion, you must mention how the topic is important or how it impacts us in a broader context.

#2 DESCRIBE

Whenever the directive word is “Describe”, we have to tell “what it is”. In simpler terms, we need to describe what a thing looks like and its main features. In questions with “Describe” as the directive word, we need not give our opinion but only present the features of the topic as they are. Usually, in such questions, the ratio of positive to negative aspects is 85:15. In the conclusion to such questions, it is advisable to summarise the entire topic in 2 lines without devoting many words to it.

Before we move on to the next word, some of you might be thinking about the exact difference between “Explain” and “Describe”. Let us understand the core difference between these 2 words with the help of an example. Suppose, we have been asked to write an answer about the Indian Monsoon, then:

As a word of caution, never use both the directive words interchangeably. They have different usage and utility.

#3 DISCUSS

The directive word “Discuss” entails debate on the topic. It includes depicting both sides of the topic, i.e. the pros as well as the cons. It involves giving an opinion on the topic, depicting both sides of the coin. Whenever you encounter the directive word “Discuss”, you ought to include as many dimensions as possible. A multi-dimensional answer has a greater probability of fetching more marks. You should think of the word “Discuss” as a balanced conversation, but in a written format. You should not be seen taking sides when it comes to the word “Discuss”. In such answers, the positive to negative aspects demand a 50:50 balance.

#4 EXAMINE

You must have gone to the doctor sometimes, and he must have used a line: “Let me examine you and then prescribe the medicines.” The word “Examine” in UPSC Mains involves getting to the root cause of the topic and investigating it from multiple dimensions. In such questions, the ratio of positive to negative content is about 60:40. Regarding the conclusion, we must conclude by writing our understanding of the investigation and what we drew from it.

Many aspirants often get confused between discuss and examine. Let us get deeper into the differences between the two words and understand it with the help of a few examples:

Discuss and examine are very different words and should not be used interchangeably.

#5 ANALYSE

The directive word “Analyse” means breaking the given topic into smaller parts and then exploring the interconnection between them. It is the interconnection among the smaller components that sets the word “Analyse” apart from other words. It means that if a topic is given and you are breaking it down into smaller components, you need to analyse how one aspect is impacting the other. In such questions, it is advisable to devote a 50:50 word limit to the positive and the negative aspects. You can conclude the answer by writing the analysis of the interconnections explored amongst the topics.

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The words Discuss, Examine, and Analyse often get confusing for the aspirants. With the help of a table, we will try and understand the layman differences between the 3 keywords using the same example of Movies and Article 19 that we used above.

(About our Expert: Mudit Gupta has been a mentor and faculty for the UPSC Civil Services exam for 8 years with expertise in CSAT, Polity, International Relations, and Current Affairs.)

For any queries and feedback, contact manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com

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