The RBI Grade B 2025 Descriptive English Paper includes a Precis Writing section that requires candidates to summarize a passage concisely and accurately. Many aspirants struggle to achieve high scores due to common mistakes that can be easily avoided with proper strategy and practice.
In this post, we will discuss the most frequent errors students make in precis writing and how to correct them to maximize your score in the RBI Grade B 2025 exam.
Mistake 1: Copying Sentences from the Passage
Why it’s a Mistake:
- Directly copying sentences from the passage results in plagiarism and reduces originality.
- Examiners look for your ability to paraphrase and express the core idea in your own words.
How to Avoid It:
✅ Use synonyms and rephrase ideas without changing the meaning.
✅ Practice rewriting passages in your own words while maintaining clarity.
✅ Focus on the core message instead of reusing exact phrases.
Mistake 2: Exceeding the Word Limit
Why it’s a Mistake:
- A precis should be one-third of the original passage.
- Writing more than 140 words indicates an inability to summarize effectively.
How to Avoid It:
✅ Identify key points quickly and eliminate unnecessary details.
✅ Use concise language and avoid redundant words.
✅ Practice timed precis writing to stay within the limit.
Mistake 3: Including Personal Opinions
Why it’s a Mistake:
- A precis must be objective and neutral.
- Adding opinions, analysis, or personal thoughts distorts the original meaning.
How to Avoid It:
✅ Stick to the facts presented in the passage.
✅ Maintain the tone of the author and avoid inserting additional arguments.
✅ Review your precis to ensure it remains unbiased.
Mistake 4: Poor Sentence Structure and Grammar Errors
Why it’s a Mistake:
- Incorrect grammar and improper sentence structure reduce readability and clarity.
- Examiners may deduct marks for poor language skills.
How to Avoid It:
✅ Use short, clear, and grammatically correct sentences.
✅ Avoid long, complicated sentence constructions.
✅ Practice writing precis regularly and get feedback on grammar.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Logical Flow
Why it’s a Mistake:
- A good precis should have a coherent structure with a logical flow of ideas.
- Jumping between unrelated points confuses the reader.
How to Avoid It:
✅ Follow a structured approach (Introduction, Main Points, Conclusion).
✅ Ensure smooth transitions between sentences.
✅ Revise your precis to improve readability.
Mistake 6: Omitting Essential Information
Why it’s a Mistake:
- Skipping key points can lead to loss of meaning.
- Your precis must cover all major arguments and conclusions of the passage.
How to Avoid It:
✅ Identify the central idea and supporting details before writing.
✅ Ensure all key points are covered concisely.
✅ Practice identifying essential vs. non-essential details in passages.
Mistake 7: Not Giving a Proper Title
Why it’s a Mistake:
- A missing or weak title makes the precis incomplete and unclear.
- The title must accurately reflect the main theme of the passage.
How to Avoid It:
✅ Choose a title that summarizes the entire passage in a few words.
✅ Avoid vague or overly general titles.
✅ Practice writing effective titles by summarizing passages in one sentence.
Example of a High-Scoring Precis
Original Passage
With the rise of digital banking, financial transactions have become more efficient and accessible. Mobile banking, digital wallets, and contactless payments have reduced dependency on cash. However, the shift towards digital finance has also increased cybersecurity risks, with rising cases of fraud and data breaches. Regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have introduced measures to enhance security, including multi-factor authentication and transaction limits. Financial institutions are adopting blockchain technology, AI-driven fraud detection, and biometric verification to strengthen security. While digital banking continues to grow, ensuring cybersecurity and financial literacy among users is crucial for maintaining trust in the system.
Precis
Title: Digital Banking and Cybersecurity Challenges The rise of digital banking has enhanced financial transactions, reducing reliance on cash. However, cybersecurity risks and fraud cases have also increased. The RBI has implemented security measures such as multi-factor authentication and transaction limits. Banks are adopting blockchain, AI fraud detection, and biometric verification to improve security. While digital banking expands, maintaining cybersecurity and financial literacy is essential to sustain public trust in the financial system.
Final Tips to Score High in Precis Writing
✅ Follow the one-third rule: Precis should be concise but complete.
✅ Write in your own words: Avoid copying phrases from the passage.
✅ Use simple and clear language: Avoid jargon or complex vocabulary.
✅ Practice regularly: The more you practice, the better you get at summarization.
✅ Time yourself: Simulate exam conditions while practicing.
By avoiding these common mistakes and following a structured approach, you can score high in the Precis Writing section of the RBI Grade B 2025 exam.
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