How to Master English for UPSC EPFO 2025: Grammar, Vocabulary & Comprehension

The Union Public Service Commission has announced that the UPSC EPFO 2025 exam will be held on 30 November 2025. English plays a very important role in the selection process for both AO and EO posts, making it essential for candidates to focus on this subject. A strong command over grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills can significantly improve the chances of securing a high score.

How to Master English for UPSC EPFO 2025

Here, we share a well-structured UPSC EPFO 2025 preparation strategy designed to help you strengthen your English skills, avoid common mistakes, and develop accuracy along with speed. With consistent practice and the right approach, you can confidently tackle this section and maximise your performance in the exam.

Grammar

Focus on strengthening the basics of grammar, including tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, and sentence structure. Practice spotting errors, sentence correction, and fill-in-the-blanks regularly. Here are some tips and pointers which help you to prepare.

• Study the Basics Thoroughly: Start with a comprehensive grammar book or use you tube videos for basis understanding. Focus on fundamental topics like parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs), tenses, subject-verb agreement, active and passive voice, and direct and indirect speech.
• Practice with a Purpose: Don’t just read the rules; apply them. Solve exercises from your grammar book and, more importantly, from previous years’ question papers. This will help you understand how grammar rules are tested in the exam.
• Focus on Common Errors: Pay attention to common mistakes, such as incorrect use of prepositions, articles, and conjunctions. Make a list of these errors and revise them regularly.
• Take Mock Tests: Regular mock tests are crucial. They not only help you identify your weak areas but also simulate the exam environment, improving your time management.

Vocabulary

Build your vocabulary through daily reading of newspapers, magazines, and quality online articles. Maintain a dedicated notebook for new words, including their meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and usage in sentences. Learn 5–10 new words daily and revise them frequently to retain them for the long term.

• Read Regularly: Make it a habit to read English newspapers, especially the editorials, and magazines. Reading exposes you to a wide range of new words in context, which makes them easier to remember.
• Use a Vocabulary Notebook: When you encounter a new word, write it down in a notebook along with its meaning, a synonym, an antonym, and a sentence illustrating its use. Review this notebook regularly.
• Refer to a Good Resource: “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis is a highly recommended book for systematic vocabulary building. It teaches you root words, which allows you to deduce the meaning of many new words.
• Practice with Previous Year’s Questions: Solve all the vocabulary-related questions from past UPSC EPFO and other UPSC exams. This will give you a clear idea of the type of words that are frequently asked.

Comprehension

Practice reading comprehension passages from past papers and mock tests to improve both speed and understanding. Focus on identifying the main idea, tone, and inference of the passage while avoiding overthinking. Develop the habit of reading quickly yet attentively, as this will help in answering direct and indirect questions accurately without wasting time.

• Read Actively: When you read a passage, don’t just passively go through the words. Actively engage with the text. Try to identify the main idea, the  tone, and the key arguments.
• Scan the Questions First: Before you start reading the passage, take a quick look at the questions. This will help you know what information you need to look for while reading, saving you time.
• Practice Timed Reading: Reading comprehension questions in the exam are time-bound. Practice reading passages and answering questions under a time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.
• Summarize the Passage: After reading, try to summarize the passage in your own words. This practice helps to ensure you have a clear understanding of the text’s central theme and details.