Essay and Composition Writing for the BCS Written Examination
What the examiner is really testing
The BCS essay rewards a disciplined argument, not lyrical prose. You must show that you can interpret a topic, organise material under a clear thesis, support it with evidence, and reach a reasoned conclusion within a fixed time. The concepts you need are: topic analysis (identifying the key term and its limits), thesis formulation, paragraph unity, cohesive devices, register (formal, impersonal, no slang or colloquial contractions), and the conventions of the discursive, argumentative, and expository essay.
Traps that cost marks
- Topic drift. Candidates begin on the topic and end on a favourite hobby. Every paragraph must be tied back to the thesis by a topic sentence.
- Narrative instead of argument. A story about a flood is not an essay on flood management; use examples as evidence, not as plot.
- One-sidedness. For a "discuss" or "evaluate" prompt, examiners expect balance before a verdict.
- Empty padding. Quotations and slogans pasted without explanation earn nothing.
- Neglecting the introduction and conclusion. The introduction should define and preview; the conclusion should synthesise, not merely repeat.
Worked example
Prompt: Digital technology has transformed education, but not all change is progress.
A weak opening: "Technology is very important nowadays." A strong opening: "Digital tools have widened access to learning in Bangladesh, yet access without quality is a hollow gain; this essay argues that technology advances education only where teachers and curricula are prepared for it." Note that it names the issue, narrows it, and states a position. Thereafter, one paragraph on access, one on quality, one on teacher readiness, each opening with a claim and closing with a link to the thesis.
Rule of thumb
Before writing, spend five minutes producing a one-sentence thesis and three supporting points. If a paragraph cannot be labelled with one of those points, cut it. Reserve time to revise for agreement, tense, spelling, and punctuation, because surface errors are penalised heavily in the written paper.