IFSCA Grade A 2025 Descriptive English: Complete Preparation Strategy

IFSCA Grade A 2025 Descriptive English: Complete Preparation Strategy

The IFSCA Grade A 2025 Descriptive English section is a make-or-break component of the Phase 2 examination. This paper assesses your ability to express ideas clearly, summarize concisely, and comprehend information analytically. Many candidates focus heavily on the objective paper, but it’s the descriptive section where you can truly stand out—provided you adopt a structured and focused approach.

This post from Bank Whizz offers a complete preparation strategy for IFSCA Grade A Descriptive English covering:

  • The exact exam pattern
  • Section-wise preparation (Essay, Precis, RC)
  • Writing techniques
  • Time management
  • Practice tips
  • Common mistakes to avoid
  • Model approach for daily practice

📘 Exam Pattern: IFSCA Descriptive English Paper

ComponentDetails
Paper TypeDescriptive
SectionsEssay Writing, Precis, RC
Total Marks100
Word LimitEssay: ~300 words, Precis: ~170 words
Time Allotted60 minutes

✍️ Section-Wise Strategy

1. 🧠 Essay Writing (30 Marks)

Objective: To assess your ability to articulate arguments, analyze issues, and present ideas coherently.

🔹 Key Focus Areas:

  • Clarity of thought and structure
  • Grammar and sentence formation
  • Depth of analysis and relevance
  • Balanced viewpoints

🔹 Common Essay Topics:

  • Financial inclusion
  • Green finance
  • India’s $5 trillion economy roadmap
  • Role of fintech in global finance
  • Women in leadership roles
  • Cybersecurity in digital banking

🔹 Strategy to Prepare:

  • Structure: Follow the Intro–Body–Conclusion format.
  • Practice: Write 2 essays per week with time limit.
  • Reading: Follow The Hindu Business Line, LiveMint, Economic Times editorials.
  • Vocabulary: Use formal, precise words.
  • Model Bank Whizz Framework:
    • Introduction (30–40 words)
    • Body (3–4 paragraphs, 100–120 words)
    • Conclusion (30–40 words)

2. ✂️ Precis Writing (35 Marks)

Objective: To evaluate your summarizing skills and ability to condense without losing meaning.

🔹 Key Skills Required:

  • Identifying core ideas
  • Eliminating redundancy
  • Maintaining coherence and flow
  • Writing in your own words

🔹 Strategy to Prepare:

  • Practice reducing 300–350-word passages into 170 words.
  • Use 1/3rd rule: The precis should be roughly one-third of the original passage.
  • Avoid copying phrases verbatim.
  • Title must be apt and crisp.
  • Read editorials and try summarizing them in your notebook daily.

🔹 Step-by-Step Approach:

  1. Read the passage twice.
  2. Underline keywords.
  3. Note down core ideas.
  4. Write in your own words (do not include examples/statistics unless crucial).
  5. Add a title at the top.

3. 📖 Reading Comprehension (35 Marks)

Objective: To check your comprehension, inference, and analytical ability.

🔹 Type of Questions:

  • Based on a 400–500-word passage
  • 5 questions to be answered (descriptive)
  • Questions may test tone, inference, facts, vocabulary, etc.

🔹 Strategy to Prepare:

  • Read editorial and finance-based content daily.
  • Practice RC from Bank Whizz descriptive mocks.
  • Highlight the keyword in each question.
  • Avoid overly long answers; write to the point (30–50 words each).
  • Focus on understanding tone (critical, optimistic, analytical).

📅 Weekly Study Plan

DayActivity
Monday1 Essay + 1 RC
TuesdayPrecis Practice
WednesdayRC + Vocabulary Building
ThursdayEssay Practice
FridayPrecis + RC
SaturdayMock Test + Review
SundayAnalyze Mistakes + Revise Vocabulary

🕒 Time Management During Exam

SectionRecommended Time
Essay20 minutes
Precis20 minutes
RC20 minutes

⚠️ Tips:

  • Attempt the Precis second because it’s scoring and time-bound.
  • Don’t spend too much time thinking—write as you think (with clarity).
  • Leave 2–3 minutes at the end for review.

🧠 Smart Tips for Descriptive Success

✅ 1. Use Active Voice

  • “The committee implemented the reforms” (✔)
  • Not: “The reforms were implemented by the committee” (✘)

✅ 2. Avoid Fancy Words

  • Choose clarity over flair.

✅ 3. Revise Grammar Rules

  • Tenses, subject-verb agreement, prepositions, and articles

✅ 4. Practice 5 Previous Year Papers

  • While IFSCA is new, follow SEBI/RBI/NABARD descriptive patterns

✅ 5. Join a Mock Test Platform

  • Bank Whizz offers real-exam-style mocks with evaluation and feedback

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Crossing word limits (especially in Essay and Precis)
  2. Repetition of ideas
  3. Unclear structure in essays
  4. Overuse of filler words (however, moreover, in order to…)
  5. Ignoring question keywords in RC (like “Discuss”, “Explain briefly”)

📚 Recommended Resources

  • Books:
    • “Descriptive English” by SP Bakshi and Richa Sharma
    • “151 Essays” by Arihant
  • Online Platforms:
    • Bank Whizz’s Descriptive English Course
    • RBI/SEBI/NABARD previous year descriptive papers
  • Newspapers for Essay & RC:
    • The Hindu
    • Indian Express (Editorial)
    • Business Standard

✍️ Sample Essay Structure

Topic: Role of Fintech in Global Finance

  1. Introduction: Define fintech and its rise post-2008.
  2. Body:
    • Transformation in cross-border payments, lending, and digital identity.
    • Case studies (like UPI, PayTM, Blockchain usage).
    • Regulatory challenges.
  3. Conclusion: Balance of innovation and regulation is key.

📈 Final Words

The IFSCA Grade A 2025 Descriptive English paper is your gateway to proving not just knowledge but clarity of expression and analytical skills. With consistent effort and structured preparation, this paper can become your strength.

Start early. Write consistently. Review deeply.

Let Bank Whizz be your trusted partner in this journey with:

  • Mock Tests with evaluation
  • Essay/Precis model answers
  • Personalized feedback