How we evaluate a GS answer
When you submit a GS Paper 1, 2 or 3 answer on Zippy, it is evaluated on five criteria. This page sets them out, so you can read them before you write.
The UPSC instruction
Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.
Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.
Our five criteria are our own design, built around those two lines.
| UPSC says | Where our criteria look for it |
|---|---|
| Orderly | Structure and organisation |
| Effective | Content relevance, and analysis |
| Exact | Evidence and examples |
| Economy of words | Structure and organisation, which includes the word limit |
| Not superficial knowledge | Analysis, and evidence |
The five criteria
| Criterion | What it checks | Rewarded | Held back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content relevance | Does the answer address every part of the question that was asked? Are the facts accurate? | Every part answered, with accurate, specific facts | Writing about the topic instead of the question. Missing a part. Factual errors |
| Structure and organisation | Introduction, body, conclusion. Points in a sensible order. Within the word limit | A short opening, strongest point first, clear blocks | A long background opening, no conclusion, points in no order |
| Analysis | Does the answer do what the directive asks? Does it look at the issue from more than one side? | Each side developed, trade-offs weighed, the directive followed | Description only. One side only. Sides named in one line each |
| Evidence | Named schemes, articles, reports, judgments and figures, each tied to a point | Each example explains something in the argument | "Studies show" with no source. Examples named and not used |
| Conclusion | Does the answer end on a judgement or a next step? | A specific step that follows from the body | Repeating the body. A closing line that fits any question |
How the levels work
Each criterion is placed on one of five levels: Inadequate, Below average, Average, Good, Excellent.
| 10-mark answer | 15-mark answer | |
|---|---|---|
| Content relevance | 0 to 4 points | 0 to 6 points |
| Structure and organisation | 0 to 4 | 0 to 4 |
| Analysis | 0 to 4 | 0 to 6 |
| Evidence | 0 to 4 | 0 to 4 |
| Conclusion | 0 to 4 | 0 to 4 |
| Word limit | A small overrun is accepted. Over 200 words is marked down | A small overrun is accepted. Over 350 words is marked down |
On a 15-mark answer, content and analysis carry more weight. A 15-mark answer also has to answer every part of a multi-part question to reach the top levels.
GS Paper 4 uses different criteria, one set for theory answers and one for case studies. The case study set checks stakeholders, ethical issues, options, your decision and its justification, and tone. See GS Paper 4.
What you get back
| You get | What it is for |
|---|---|
| A comment on each criterion | Shows where the answer is strong and where it is thin |
| The one change that would most improve the answer | Gives you a single thing to work on in your next answer |
What our evaluation cannot tell you
| It cannot tell you | Why |
|---|---|
| Your UPSC mark | UPSC does not publish a marking scheme. Our levels are not a prediction of your exam mark |
| Whether a recent figure is still current | The evaluation is written by AI. It can miss a change in data or policy from the last few months |
| How your handwriting reads | UPSC deducts marks for handwriting that is hard to read. A typed answer cannot show this |
| Whether you kept to time | We see the answer, not how long it took. Time yourself with the plan in Three hours, twenty answers |
| How you compare with other candidates | We do not rank answers against each other |
The evaluation can also be wrong. If a comment does not match what you wrote, check your answer against the question and your source.
How to use the feedback
- Find the criterion with the lowest level.
- Read the one suggested change.
- Write your next answer with that change in mind. Leave everything else as it is.
- Compare the same criterion on the two answers.
- Move to the next weakest criterion only when that one has improved.