How to Write Answers for Judiciary Mains Exam?

In Judiciary Exams, the score in Mains Exam will decide your eligibility for the Interview Round. For this reason, the mains exam is given the most weightage in the selection procedure for the Judiciary Examination.

To clear the main examination, you should have strong writing skills. Remember, you cannot develop writing skills overnight. Instead, you require regular practice to write the perfect answer in the civil judge exam.

The answer is judged as good or perfect based on the three main components such as crisp, precise, and easy to understand. 

Are you worried about how to frame the answers in the mains exam? Well, no need to worry!

Our experts from Judiciary Gold have discussed a few tips and tricks in this post to help you better understand how to write answers for Judiciary Mains Exam.

Let's walk through the post to learn effective techniques to write a perfect answer.

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Prerequisites of Answer Writing for Judiciary Mains Exam 2022

Just following small tips would make a lot of difference and help you in clearing the Upcoming Judiciary Exams.

Most of you follow the standard method of answer writing taught in your law schools. However, changing the way you have been trained in your law school will help you stand out from the crowd.

The following are some simple tips that help you to write a perfect answer in the main examination.

• Gain a good hold on all subjects, including procedural and substantive law.
• Know the difference between semesters exams and judiciary mains exams while writing answers because there is a lot of difference between the answer writing taught in your law schools and the answers you write in the civil judge exam.

Types of Questions Asked in Judiciary Mains Exam 2022

Questions asked in Mains Examination can be categorized on two basic parameters:

• Marks allotted 
• Expected length of the answer

On this basis, Questions in the Mains exam are either:

• Short Note Types (which are usually less than 10 marks and require only a precise answer)
• Long Answer Types (which are more than 10 marks and demands elaboration on the point of the law asked)

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A legal opinion is sought in response to a question

On this basis, Questions in Mains can be either:

• Factual Matrix Question (This format of questions presents a specific factual scenario and requires elaboration on some point/(s) of law in connection with the same. These types of questions are increasingly being posed in various state judicial exams).
• General Law Questions are common questions you must have encountered in your law school exams. These questions require elaboration on any topic or issue of law).

While long and short note questions are the most common types of questions in nearly all Judiciary Mains examinations, Factual Matrix Questions, which are usually long answer type questions, are also common.

General Tips for Answer Writing in Judiciary Mains Examination 2022

• It is crucial to understand the question before attempting the question, as it will help you get a clear idea of what is exactly asked by the examiner.
• Practice as many answer writing questions as possible from the previous year's question papers of Judiciary Mains to be well-versed with the format and trends of the state judiciary exam.
• Include general application of legal principles in a given set of facts.
• If the word limit to a question is not provided, you can consider two parameters mainly - the marks allotted and scope/need of extension in the answer.
• The length of the answer or number of pages is not a decisive factor for marking. Hence, it would help if you keep your answers brief and to the point, and this will help a lot in completing the exam on time.
• Neat and legible handwriting is also essential to ease readability. 
• Writing in short paragraphs or pointers also helps hold the examiner's interest.
• You should only write either the landmark judgments or recent important case laws, which can help convey your clarity of the concept. 
• Even though the kind of question asked, some requisites of a good Mains level answer are: Legal Provision and concept of the law. Illustrations and case laws are only meant to beautify an answer.

General Format of the Judiciary Mains Answer

As you need to impress the examiner with your answer, it is recommended to prepare your synopsis in advance. In this way, you can convey the relevant information within a limited time.

You can follow the general format given below while writing the answers in the Judiciary mains examination.

Introduction of the answer

An answer can be made impressive by starting it with a brief introduction. It can either be about the definition of the legal concept asked in the question, importance, object of the law, or background or history of the provision.

A quick introduction can help in making a response more impressive. The intro should be about the definition of the legal concept, the significance or object of the legislation, or the background or history of the provision.

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The main body of the answer

This is the most significant and decisive aspect of the complete answer. You should incorporate all the necessary details asked in the question here.

The main body of any answer must include the relevant provisions of law, applicability or enforcement of the same, recent amendments (if any), illustrations for clarity of your conceptual knowledge.

Conclusion

While most of you skip this part, writing a brief and effective conclusion can significantly impact your marks.

Here, a summary or gist of the whole answer is written along with major takeaways to ensure that your knowledge of the law has been sufficiently conveyed.

Read More: Judgement Writing Tips for Judicial Services Exam

Format of a Short Note in Mains Exam

You can skip the elaborative general format since short notes carry fewer marks and are usually asked on short law concepts.

Tips for Answering Factual Matrix Questions

Since factual matrix questions are usually elaborative and demand more specific information, completely sticking to the general format will not be sufficient.

You can refer to the following format while answering the factual matrix questions.

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Introduction

Since the object of asking a factual matrix question is to test if a candidate can decode what law and legal provision will be applicable in the given facts, the introduction should lay down the law/legal principles relevant to the mentioned factual scenario. This needs to be brief and on point.

Main Body

In this part, you should emphasize the appreciation of facts and elaboration on the law and legal provisions relevant to the facts.

Laying down the ingredients of law and establishing a connecting link between the facts and law is very important in this part of the answer.

You should also mention illustrations or case laws based on similar facts and convey a better idea of the applicable law.

At this stage, justifying your answer with logical and legal reasoning adds quality to it.

Read More: How to deal with Negative Marking in Judiciary Exams?

Conclusion

In conclusion, summarize the whole answer.

For example, if the question is whether the theft offense is made out in the given facts?

After discussing the law of theft, its provision and ingredients, and justifying your answer that theft here is not made out, the conclusion should lay down a summarized, direct answer that the theft is/is not made out in these facts along with its reasons.

Things to Remember While Answering Factual Matrix Question

• Always write an answer that is balanced both in incorporating facts and legal principles.
• Avoid directly answering. Like in the previous example of a question on theft, this means building on the answer by discussing ingredients of theft and appreciation of facts in its light rather than simply writing; that offense of theft is not made out here.
• Always use the Deductive approach (General to specific) while answering factual matrix type of questions.
• Do not forget to consider all the aspects of the relevant law and set of facts and justify your chosen answer elaborately. By questions like these, the examiner aims to test your skill of applying the law in factual situations.

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In conclusion, summarizing the whole answer and writing a direct answer concerning the factual matrix is a good technique.

For example, if the question is whether the theft offense is made out in the given facts?

After discussing the law of theft, its provision and ingredients, and justifying your answer that theft here is/is not made out, the conclusion should lay down a summarized, and direct answer that the theft is/is not made out in these facts along with its reasons.

Also check: Important Judgement Writing Questions for Judiciary Exams

Things to Remember While Answering Factual Matrix Question:

• It would help if you always wrote an answer balanced both in incorporating facts and legal principles.
• Avoid directly answering. Like in the previous example of a question on theft, this means building on the answer by discussing ingredients of theft and appreciation of facts in its light rather than simply writing that offense of theft is/is not made out here.
• When responding to factual matrix questions, always apply the Deductive technique (general to specific).
• Remember, you should consider all parts of the applicable law and facts and expound on your proposed remedy. With questions like these, the examiner attempts to assess your ability to apply the law in factual situations.