BPSC Mains Exam: Common Doubts and Myths Explained

Introduction

BPSC Mains examination is the most decisive stage of the Bihar civil services examination. Due to lack of proper guidance and circulation of half-baked information, many aspirants develop unnecessary fear regarding coaching, handwriting, answer writing format, word limit and other procedural aspects.

To understand the structure of the exam, candidates must first know the BPSC Mains exam pattern.

In this article, bpsc mains exam common doubts and myths are explained in a simple and practical manner, based on real examination experience. Let’s see the very common doubts among BPSC aspirants in respect of BPSC Mains Exam. These doubts (Myth) can be enumerated below.

• Role of Coaching for GS Paper, Essay paper and Optional Paper.
• Hand writing in Mains Exam.
• Answer writing Parawise/Pointwise.
• Number of words per question.
• Pen Ink Colour Blue/Black.
• Underlining important facts in answer.
• Time Management.
• Number of page in answer booklet; answer booklet lined/blank.
• Use of map and diagram in answer.
• Use of English terminology for Hindi medium students.
• Use of Calculator.
• Changing medium and Optional Subject of Mains Exam.

In the succeeding paragraphs I will explain to you about all doubts with appropriate examples.

Role of Coaching in BPSC Mains Examination

A very common belief among aspirants is that it is impossible to clear BPSC Mains without joining a coaching institute. This belief is not correct. Many candidates have successfully qualified BPSC Mains and secured good ranks through self-study alone.

General Studies and Essay papers primarily test understanding, clarity of thought and presentation. These skills can be developed through regular reading, analysing previous year questions and practicing answer writing. Since the optional paper is qualifying in nature, coaching is not compulsory even for the optional subject. Coaching may help some students, but it is not a mandatory requirement for success.

Importance of Handwriting in BPSC Mains

BPSC Mains examination is not conducted to judge handwriting quality but to evaluate content, understanding and analytical ability. Neat handwriting is helpful, but only to the extent that it is readable.

Even candidates with good handwriting may experience deterioration in writing quality under exam pressure. Therefore, aspirants should focus more on clarity of expression and logical structure rather than worrying excessively about handwriting style.

Answer Writing: Point-wise or Paragraph-wise

There is no fixed rule prescribed by BPSC regarding the format of answers. The choice between point-wise and paragraph-wise writing depends entirely on the nature of the question.

Factual and direct questions are better answered in point-wise format, whereas analytical and opinion-based questions are more suitable for paragraph-wise presentation. In many cases, a combination of both formats can be effectively used in a single answer.

Word Limit in BPSC Mains Examination

Each General Studies and Essay paper carries 300 marks and is to be completed in three hours. On average, a candidate writes around 3000 to 3500 words in one paper. This means that each GS question should ideally be answered in about 400 to 450 words.

BPSC prefers concise and focused answers. Writing excessively long answers often leads to poor time management and unanswered questions. For compulsory questions containing multiple sub-questions, each sub-question should be completed within 150 words. In the Essay paper, the word limit for each essay should be maintained between 1000 and 1200 words.

Pen and Ink Colour in BPSC Mains

Candidates are allowed to use blue or black ink pens in the examination. It is advisable to use a blue ball pen for better visibility. Use of red or green ink is strictly prohibited.

Pencil is no longer permitted even for drawing maps or diagrams. Important words and facts may be underlined, but the same pen used for writing should be used for underlining as well.

Underlining Important Points in Answers

Underlining key dates, terms and names helps draw the examiner’s attention to important parts of the answer. However, excessive underlining should be avoided. Moderate and meaningful underlining improves readability and presentation.

Time Management During the Mains Examination

Time management plays a crucial role in BPSC Mains. Many candidates lose marks simply because they fail to complete all questions within the allotted time.

Ideally, the three hours should be divided evenly among all questions, giving roughly 22 minutes per question. Spending extra time on one answer may result in leaving another question incomplete, leading to significant loss of marks. Compulsory questions may take slightly more time, but overall balance must be maintained.

Answer Booklet and Writing Space

From the 68th BPSC onwards, answers must be written only in the space provided for each question in the answer booklet. Extra sheets are not provided, and the pages are blank without any ruling.

Therefore, candidates should practice answer writing on blank sheets well before the examination to avoid discomfort during the actual exam.

Use of Maps and Diagrams in Answers

Maps and diagrams should be used only when they add value to the answer. Drawing unnecessary diagrams wastes time and does not guarantee additional marks. Simple and relevant diagrams are more effective than complex and irrelevant ones.

Use of English Terminology by Hindi Medium Candidates

BPSC allows the use of standard English terminology even when answers are written in Hindi or Urdu. Terms such as UNO, WHO and IMF can be written in English without any penalty. This practice does not affect marks in any way.

Use of Calculator in BPSC Mains

Statistics is a part of General Studies Paper-1, and candidates are permitted to carry a simple calculator. Scientific calculators are not allowed. Carrying a simple calculator is advisable as it helps save valuable time during numerical calculations.

Changing Medium or Optional Subject

The choice of medium and optional subject is made at the time of filling the Pre examination form. While change of optional subject has been allowed in recent examinations, change of medium is not permitted at later stages.

All papers, including GS Paper-1, GS Paper-2 and Essay, must be written in the same selected language. Therefore, aspirants should decide their medium carefully at the initial stage itself.

Conclusion

Most doubts related to BPSC Mains examination arise due to misinformation and fear rather than actual rules. Success in BPSC Mains depends on clarity of concepts, disciplined answer writing practice and effective time management.

This article aims to clear common myths and help aspirants approach the BPSC Mains examination with confidence and clarity.