GS1 2022 Q4 10 marks 150 words Physical Geography
UPSC Mains 2022 GS1 Q4 — Physical Geography
Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Describe
- Scope keywords
- characteristicstypesprimary rocks
- Implicit sub-parts
- What defines a rock as 'primary' and its connection to the cooling of magma/lava?
- What are the defining physical and chemical traits that distinguish them from sedimentary or metamorphic rocks?
- How can primary rocks be classified based on origin (intrusive/extrusive) and chemical composition (acidic/basic)?
- Common pitfalls
- Wasting words on the entire rock cycle instead of focusing strictly on primary (Igneous) rocks.
- Confusing 'primary' with 'sedimentary' or failing to mention that they are the source of all other rock types.
- Neglecting to mention the absence of fossils, which is a critical characteristic of primary rocks.
- Omitting the distinction between Plutonic and Volcanic types in the classification section.
- Dimensions required
- Geological formation/OriginPhysical properties (texture, crystallinity)Chemical composition (Silica content)Structural classification (Intrusive vs Extrusive)
- Marks allocation hint
Dedicate 20 words to the definition of primary rocks as the parent material. Allocate 60 words to characteristics like crystalline structure and lack of layers. Use the remaining 70 words for a clear classification of types with examples like Granite and Basalt, ideally using a small schematic or flow chart.
Unlock the full analysis for this question
You've seen the question and its examiner-intent decoding. Subscribers also get:
- 🔗 Similar Previous Year Questions — cross-year, cross-paper matches so you study the topic, not the question
- 📚 Source Map — verified citations from Laxmikanth, NCERT, PRS, Yojana, Economic Survey, Spectrum
- 🌱 How this topic is evolving — current-affairs bridge anchored to live TARS news clustering
- 🧭 Examiner's Pattern — how the topic has been framed across every year UPSC has tested it
- ✍️ Answer Skeleton — a structured outline (intro → body → conclusion) you can flesh out
- 🎯 AI evaluation — write your answer, get rubric-based scoring from gs-eval
Or browse 132+ free preview questions across all years and papers — the first 3 questions of every paper are unlocked.
Ready to practice?
Subscribers can attempt this question in 150 words and get an instant, rubric-based evaluation showing where they stand.
Subscribe to evaluate your answer →