Hi all,

It is well established fact that answer writing in Mains is all about being unique and innovative. Presentation matters more than we think.

Reasons to draw diagrams

1. Break monotony of answers.
2. Uniqueness. Despite knowing that diagrams are needed, not many draw them.
3. To fill space in answers you don’t know well.
4. Gain +1 mark per question. I.e. approx 50+ marks in GS Papers if you draw 12 diagrams/paper.

Types of diagrams

Hub and spoke diagram comes handy in answers where you are ‘listing’ reasons, problems, solutions etc. List 6-7 one-two liner points in the answer and draw rest of points in one or two words in diagram. Example: 

Flowchart is useful in listing attributes like in above pic, flowchart can be used instead of hub-spoke. It is also handy in situations where cause-effect relation can be shown. Example: 

It can be used in History questions very effectively to present chronology of events. This is very innovative in ‘boring’ answers of History. Example:

These can be drawn in Ethics Case Studies to depict ethical dilemmas. Exanple:

Join Decode Civils Telegram Group For Free UPSC CSE Guidance From Mudit Jain, IRS CSE 2017 (Ex-IPS CSE 2014 & 2015).

Decode Civils Group Telegram Link: https://t.me/decodecivilsgroup

• Decode Ethics 2nd Edition Sample Chapter
• UPSC 2019 Ethics Paper Detailed Question Sources And Answer Content
• UPPSC 2018 Mains Ethics Solutions

Decode Ethics Link

Decode History: World History Edition Link

Maps of World and India can be drawn in parts or full in Geography and where ever you deem fit. Example:

Tables are very unique despite years of GS exam. They can be drawn to present facts and figures in questions of census, population or any other data related question. Example:

Graphs are the new fad as far as answer writing goes. Drawing them is easy, esoecially in gs-3. Example:

Venn diagrams to show relation between 2+ variables. Example:

And…….

Any other diagram that you can think of!!!!!

Click here for my answer writing strategy.

ATB!