I always overshoot 150 / 250 words

Question

I know the usual GS pattern is about 150 words for 10-markers and 250 for 15-markers, and I still finish at 200 and 320. The content isn't even extra value, it's just long sentences.

What helped you cut words without making the answer look empty?

Priya Nair · Accepted Answer

I started writing in bullets for the body (even if I later convert one or two into short paragraphs). I also banned 'It is important to note that' and 'In the contemporary scenario'. That alone saved a lot.

arjun_mains · Answer

Practice on actual answer sheets and count lines, not words, once you know your average words per line. And stop after the planned number of points. A fourth point that repeats the first is how I used to overshoot.

nisha.r · Answer

A 2-minute outline before writing helped me more than trying to edit after I had already written 300 words.

gs2_grinder · Answer

Outline first + kill the filler phrases. I'll try both this week.