The written exam and personality test are both conducted in English for the majority of UPSC civil service aspirants. However, not everyone claims to be fluent in the language. It’s one thing to be able to speak English casually; it’s another to be able to write fluently in the language. It’s another thing entirely to be able to speak formally in an interview environment without breaking a sweat.
True, the UPSC exam does not have an English language component. However, you will all agree that being comfortable with the language is beneficial. In the UPSC mains written test, it’s critical to make your point as clear as possible. Having good English might help you tremendously in this area. Finally, consider having to hunt for words in your thoughts while answering a question in the UPSC interview. Despite your education, you may provide a poor image. Being able to talk without hiccups is vital for portraying a confident, self-assured individual. This is when having strong English comes in handy. So, the main question arises about how to improve English for UPSC. Read the following points.
Tips on how to enhance your English for the UPSC test
‘Reading makes a man complete.’
Sir Francis Bacon, a British politician, said it best in the statement above. To build a decent language, you must first cultivate the habit of reading extensively. Of course, you’ll have to do a lot of reading to prepare for the IAS test, but make sure you’re absorbing the spirit of the language as well as the material. Make a list of new words and idioms, then check them up to see what they mean and how to use them.
Apart from that, use these new terms and phrases in your answer writing exercise and while conversing with people. The Hindu newspaper, government documents/schemes (where you will find a lot of technical/legal terms), standard novels, poetry, and even your textbooks will be of great assistance in this regard.
You may speed up your learning by writing 20 new words every day. Every week, you’d get at least 100 words!
Send in letters to the editor.
This is a sure-fire way to enhance your writing skills. Every day, send one letter to the editor. This will have the dual function of allowing you to express your thoughts on critical problems while also helping you to improve your English.
Speak English to your buddies.
This will help you strengthen your language skills and will be extremely beneficial in the UPSC interview. It may feel odd at first if you are used to chatting in your original tongue, but only by starting will your English conversational abilities develop. You’ll be fluent in English by the time you take the personality exam!
Watch English news, movies, and other media.
If you’re watching TV during your break, make sure it’s English-language programming. This will familiarize you with the language’s intricacies as well as provide you with some phrases that may be used to enhance your spoken language.
Create a blog.
You might also create your blog. This may be used for a variety of things. For starters, you can get a lot of practice writing answers and get helpful criticism from others. Second, you will have more perspectives on issues relevant to the UPSC exam as a result of this. Finally, your language will vastly improve. For more practice and help, you can join some social media groups, the likeminded people will help you.
