Essay Excellence Sprint
A Thematic Compilation for CAPF AC ESSAY
By Khushboo Naruka
Deputy Field Officer (DFO), Cabinet Secretariat
@Goldenbeans14 @goldenbeanschannel
"Writing is thinking on paper." - William Zinsser
This booklet is a carefully designed collection of high-
quality, theme-based essays to help you master the art of
UPSC CAPF essay writing. As part of the Essay Excellence
Sprint Program, we have focused on six critical themes:
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1. Defence & National Security
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2. Economy & Digital Transformation
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3. Science & Technology
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4. Social & Cultural Issues
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5. Environmental Concerns
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6. Geopolitics & Global Relations
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Each essay demonstrates effective structure, relevant
content, and value-enriching examples - exactly how
UPSC expects it
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How to Use This Booklet: -
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Read one essay per day.
Observe the introduction, body, and conclusion
structure.
Note examples and replicate them in your answers.
Practice using the brainstorming method taught in
Class 3
Compiled & Mentored by:
Khushboo Naruka
DFO, Cabinet Sect.,2025
Essay Excellence Sprint
Day 1
Theme 1: Defence & National
Security
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Do We Need Gender Equity in
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the Defence Services?
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Maximum marks: 20 Marks
Word limit: 300 words
Time limit: 20 min
India too is progressing, women are now
eligible for permanent commission in the
Army, have been inducted as fighter
pilots in the Indian Air Force, and
recently, Captain Shiva Chauhan became
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the first woman officer to be deployed at
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Siachen Glacier.
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Skeptics argue that the physical rigours
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of defence service may be unsuitable for
women. However, gender equity does not
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imply lowering standards. It means
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providing equal opportunities to meet
the required standards. Moreover, in
areas like cyber warfare, logistics,
intelligence, and space defence, physical
strength is not the primary criterion—
intellect, skill, and leadership matter
more.
Gender equity also enhances morale
and legitimacy. A defence force that
reflects the diversity of the
population earns broader public trust
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and is better equipped to understand
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and serve its people.
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Thus achieving gender equity in the
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defence services is crucial. It
strengthens operational readiness,
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promotes democratic values, and
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ensures that no capable individual is
denied the honour of serving their
country solely based on gender. India
must continue building inclusive
institutions that are as diverse as the
society they defend.
Essay Excellence Sprint
Day 2
Theme 2: Economy and Digital
Transformation
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As technology becomes
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smarter, we are becoming
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Maximum marks: 20 Marks
Word limit: 300 words
Time limit: 20 min
As technology becomes smarter, we
are becoming dumber
The advancement of technology has
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brought remarkable convenience to human
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life. From voice assistants to AI-driven
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automation, machines now perform tasks
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that once required human intellect. But
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this raises a thought-provoking question:
Are we trading our intelligence for
comfort?
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Consider how we navigate today. Earlier,
people relied on memory and physical maps.
Now, GPS apps like Google Maps have
reduced our spatial awareness and ability to
remember routes. Similarly, basic math skills
are declining as people increasingly depend
on calculators, even for simple additions.
Even in communication, emojis and short
messages have replaced nuanced
expressions, affecting emotional
intelligence and vocabulary, especially
among the younger generation. Apps like
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ChatGPT offer ready-made content,
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reducing the urge to think independently,
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especially among students.
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K ruk
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However, technology itself isn’t the
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villain. Nations like South Korea and
Finland use digital tools to enhance
critical thinking in education. Platforms
like Khan Academy or Coursera offer
world-class learning. The problem lies in
passive consumption rather than active
engagement.
smarter technology can complement, not
replace, human intelligence,if used wisely.
We must develop digital discipline,
especially in education and daily life, so
that our brains stay sharp. Otherwise, we
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risk becoming dependent thinkers in an age
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that demands independent minds.
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K ruk a
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Essay Excellence Sprint
Day 3
Theme 3: Technology
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Digital technology may replace
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books with computers
K ruk
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Maximum marks: 20 Marks
Word limit: 300 words
Time limit: 20 min
Digital technology may replace books
with computers
The digital revolution has transformed
how we consume information.
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Classrooms are now equipped with
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screens instead of blackboards, and
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tablets are fast replacing school bags full
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of textbooks. In this evolving landscape,
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an important question arises—will
computers fully replace traditional
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books?
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Digital learning certainly offers
advantages. One device can store
thousands of books. Features like search,
zoom, audio reading, and quick updates
make digital content engaging and
accessible.
Especially in fast-paced fields, real-time
updates on e-books are a major plus.
Environmentalists also cheer the reduced
paper usage that comes with digital
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formats.
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However, the printed word has a unique
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power. Studies show that reading on
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paper enhances focus and memory
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retention. Books provide a tactile
experience, free from the distractions of
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pop-ups, notifications, and screen fatigue
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For many, a physical book still means
undivided attention.
Let’s not forget the digital divide—millions
in rural and remote areas still lack access
to reliable electricity or internet. For
them, books remain the only window to
knowledge.
So rather than viewing technology as a
threat, we should see it as a tool. The
future likely holds a blended model,
where both books and screens play a
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role in education. Computers can
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update and scale knowledge, while
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books deepen comprehension.
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Technology may reshape learning—but
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not replace its roots. Books and digital
tools should go hand in hand,
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empowering learners in different ways.
Essay Excellence Sprint
Day 4
Theme 4: Social And Cultural Issues
boo
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The menace of drug abuse in
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India
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Maximum marks: 20 Marks
Word limit: 300 words
Time limit: 20 min
The menace of drug abuse in India
Drug abuse has emerged as a
serious social and security challenge
in India. From urban cities to rural
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hinterlands, the grip of narcotic
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substances is spreading, affecting
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the youth, weakening families, and
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threatening national development.
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India's geographical location makes
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it vulnerable. Sandwiched between
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the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan,
Iran, Pakistan) and the Golden
Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand)—
two major drug-producing regions—
the country often serves as a transit
hub and, increasingly, as a consumer
base.
States like Punjab, Manipur, and
Himachal Pradesh are facing an
alarming rise in substance abuse,
especially among youth aged 15 to
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35.
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The consequences are grave. Drug
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addiction leads to health
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deterioration, mental instability, and
increased crime rates. It impacts
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productivity, breaks families, and
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burdens the public healthcare
system. In many border regions,
drug trafficking also fuels internal
security threats, as narcotics money
often finds its way into terrorist and
insurgent networks.
Despite laws like the Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances Act
(NDPS), 1985, and efforts by the
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB),
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implementation gaps, poor
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rehabilitation infrastructure, and
hb
social stigma continue to hinder
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progress.
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K ruk a
Addressing this menace requires a
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multi-pronged approach: strict
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border surveillance, awareness
campaigns, school-based prevention
programs, and a focus on
rehabilitation over punishment.
International cooperation is also
vital to curb cross-border trafficking.
Drug abuse is not just a personal
failure but a national concern.
Combating it demands collective
responsibility, from government,
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civil society, and individuals alike—to
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ensure a healthier, safer, and more
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secure India.
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K ruk
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Essay Excellence Sprint
Day 5
Theme 5: Environmental Concerns
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Climate Change and Its Impact
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on National Security
K ruk
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Maximum marks: 20 Marks
Word limit: 300 words
Time limit: 20 min
Climate Change and Its Impact on
National Security
Climate change today poses a direct
threat to national security, altering the
strategic, social, and economic fabric of
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nations. What once was seen as an
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environmental issue has now become a
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multi-dimensional challenge with the
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potential to destabilize internal security
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K ruk a
and regional peace.
Take the case of Bengaluru, once known
as the city of lakes. In 2024, it faced acute
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water scarcity, affecting residents,
businesses, and IT infrastructure. Such
resource stress in a major urban hub can
fuel civil unrest, economic slowdown, and
even migration, placing pressure on
surrounding regions—an internal security
concern.
Rising sea levels threaten coastal cities like
Mumbai and Chennai, with frequent
flooding impacting vital infrastructure like
ports, navy bases, and supply chains.
Melting glaciers in Himalayan regions
impact river systems, reducing water
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availability for agriculture, thus triggering
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agrarian distress and rural instability.
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In sensitive border areas like Ladakh and
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Arunachal Pradesh, unpredictable snowfall
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and retreating glaciers hamper army
logistics and movement, making defence
preparedness vulnerable. Such regions
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become harder to defend and easier to
infiltrate, raising tactical concerns.
India has recognized this evolving
challenge. The launch of the Coalition for
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
demonstrates India's global leadership in
building climate-proof infrastructure.
Domestically, the National Action Plan on
Climate Change (NAPCC) and state-
specific action plans aim to reduce
emissions and promote sustainable
development.
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Climate-induced disasters in India’s
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neighbourhood—like floods in Bangladesh
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or heatwaves in Pakistan—can spark mass
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displacement, which may spill over
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borders and strain diplomatic ties and
K ruk
border security.
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Climate change and national security are
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deeply interconnected. India must
mainstream climate resilience into
strategic planning, combining
environmental sustainability with defence,
disaster management, and diplomacy to
ensure long-term national stability.
Essay Excellence Sprint
Day 6
Theme 6: Geopolitics and Global
Relations
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India’s Role in the Emerging
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World Order
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Maximum marks: 20 Marks
Word limit: 300 words
Time limit: 20 min
India’s Role in the Emerging
World Order
As global power dynamics shift from a
unipolar to a multipolar world, India
stands at a pivotal crossroads, shaping
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and being shaped by the emerging world
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order. With its strategic location, robust
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democracy, and growing economy, India
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is increasingly seen as a responsible
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global player.
The decline of traditional Western
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dominance and the rise of regional
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powers has created space for countries
like India to assert themselves. India’s
‘Act East’, ‘Neighbourhood First’ and
‘Indo-Pacific’ strategies signify its growing
geopolitical relevance. Its participation in
QUAD alongside the US, Japan, and
Australia underscores its commitment to
a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering
China’s assertiveness in the region.
Economically, India is the fifth-largest
economy and is projected to grow even
further. With initiatives like Make in India,
Digital India, and Startup India, it is not
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only creating domestic capacity but also
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offering a viable alternative to China in
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global supply chains.
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India’s leadership in climate diplomacy,
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K ruk a
especially through initiatives like the
International Solar Alliance (ISA) and
Coalition for Disaster Resilient
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Infrastructure (CDRI)—shows its
commitment to sustainable global
development. During the COVID-19 crisis,
India’s vaccine diplomacy (Vaccine Maitri)
helped more than 70 countries, bolstering
its soft power.
On the multilateral front, India has called
for reforms in institutions like the UN,
pushing for a permanent seat in the
Security Council to reflect current
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geopolitical realities. Its balanced
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approach in conflicts like the Russia-
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Ukraine war, demonstrates strategic
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autonomy.
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K ruk a
India’s role in the new world order is that
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of a bridge-builder,balancing tradition and
modernity, East and West, development
and environment. With visionary
leadership and responsible diplomacy,
India is not just adapting to the global
order, it is helping shape it.
Completion Note
You’ve just completed the Essay Excellence Sprint —
a deep dive into structured, theme-based essay
writing designed specifically for the CAPF Paper 2.
This is not the end.
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It’s the foundation.
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By covering six major themes and writing
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consistently under time constraints, you’ve taken a
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major step forward in mastering one of the most
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scoring, yet often neglected, parts of the
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examination.
What’s Next?
🔹
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Theme-Based Deep Dive Sessions – Coming up in
the next three classes
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🔹 Final Sectional Test – 6 Essays | Write Any 4 | 80
Minutes
🔹 One-on-One Feedback & Evaluation
A Personal Note:
"Exams don't test your knowledge, they test your
preparation, mindset, and persistence."
Stay consistent, keep practicing, and remember
growth is built on discipline.
