Introduction
The Descriptive English paper in RBI Grade B 2025 is not just about writing in English — it is about writing with structure, clarity, and purpose. While you may feel confident after typing out a lengthy essay or a neatly formatted letter, your score depends on how RBI’s evaluators assess your responses.
This post decodes the evaluation criteria for each section of the Descriptive English paper and provides scoring tips to help you secure 80+ marks out of 100.
📝 RBI Grade B Descriptive English Paper – Overview
| Section | Marks | Word Limit | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Writing | 40 | ~600 words | 1 out of 4 topics |
| Precis OR Letter | 30 | ~140 / ~250 | 1 task |
| Reading Comprehension | 30 | 5–6 questions | 1 passage-based task |
| Total | 100 | 90 minutes | 3 sections |
Each section is judged not just on grammar and vocabulary, but also on structure, clarity, originality, and relevance.
✅ Section-Wise Evaluation Criteria
1. ✍️ Essay Writing (40 Marks)
Your essay is judged on content quality, logical flow, structure, coherence, and language usage.
🔹 Marking Criteria Breakdown:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Relevance to Topic | 10 marks |
| Structure & Organization | 8 marks |
| Content Quality & Examples | 10 marks |
| Language & Grammar | 6 marks |
| Vocabulary & Tone | 6 marks |
✅ High-Scoring Essay Characteristics:
- Strong Introduction with context
- Well-organized Body paragraphs covering different aspects
- Logical flow and transitions
- Thoughtful Conclusion
- Use of data, reports, and real-world examples
- Free from grammatical errors
- Stays within 580–620 words
❌ What Low-Scoring Essays Look Like:
- Off-topic or shallow discussion
- Poor paragraphing
- Informal language
- Lack of examples or data
- Spelling and grammar issues
2. ✂️ Precis or ✉️ Letter Writing (30 Marks)
Depending on the exam year, RBI may include Precis Writing or Formal Letter Writing.
2A. Precis Writing Evaluation
🔹 Marking Criteria Breakdown:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Understanding of Central Idea | 10 marks |
| Conciseness & Clarity | 6 marks |
| Structure & Coherence | 5 marks |
| Grammar & Expression | 5 marks |
| Vocabulary Usage | 4 marks |
✅ High-Scoring Precis Characteristics:
- ~140 words (1/3rd of original passage)
- Captures main idea + supporting points
- Original wording (no sentence copying)
- Objective tone
- One cohesive paragraph
❌ Low-Scoring Precis Indicators:
- Too long/too short
- Personal opinion
- Missed central idea
- Copy-paste from passage
2B. Letter Writing Evaluation
🔹 Marking Criteria Breakdown:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Format Adherence (To, Subject, etc.) | 6 marks |
| Clarity of Purpose | 8 marks |
| Content & Relevance | 8 marks |
| Tone & Language | 4 marks |
| Grammar & Style | 4 marks |
✅ High-Scoring Letters Feature:
- Correct format with salutation, body, closing
- Polite, professional tone
- Logical and to-the-point content (~250 words)
- Paragraphs are short and structured
❌ Low-Scoring Letters:
- Wrong format (no subject or address)
- Casual or emotional tone
- Unclear request or complaint
- Spelling and formatting errors
3. 📖 Reading Comprehension (30 Marks)
Evaluators check your reading accuracy, inference-making ability, vocabulary skills, and ability to interpret abstract or analytical texts.
🔹 Marking Criteria Breakdown:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Correctness of Answers (5–6 Qs) | 25 marks |
| Clarity and Structure of Answers | 3 marks |
| Vocabulary / Tone / Inference | 2 marks |
✅ High-Scoring RC Attempts:
- Accurate and concise answers
- Correct inference without adding personal knowledge
- Vocabulary questions solved using context clues
- All questions attempted within 20–25 minutes
❌ RC Mistakes That Cost Marks:
- Leaving questions unanswered
- Assuming beyond the passage
- Vague or copied responses
- Misinterpreting author’s tone
🎯 Scoring Tips to Maximize Marks
✅ General Tips:
- Practice writing under exam-like timed conditions
- Review past toppers’ answers and RBI-released sample content (if available)
- Use formal language and third-person voice
- Avoid spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors
- Stick to the prescribed word limit (±5%)
✍️ Scoring Tips for Essay Writing
- Use the PEEL Method (Point, Explain, Example, Link)
- Diversify your content – economic, social, technological dimensions
- Use real-world examples and schemes (e.g., PMJDY, Digital India)
- Include relevant stats or quotes to support your argument
- Avoid extreme or political opinions — RBI favors balanced tone
✂️ Scoring Tips for Precis Writing
- Read the passage twice — once for general understanding, again for key points
- Jot down a bullet summary before writing the paragraph
- Avoid over-summarizing one part while ignoring the rest
- Maintain neutrality – no emotional tone or personal views
- Don’t waste time rewriting — plan before you type
✉️ Scoring Tips for Letter Writing
- Memorize standard formal letter structure
- Write clearly and politely; avoid vague requests or emotional tone
- Use business-like vocabulary: “Kindly request…”, “I would like to inform…”
- Keep paragraphs short and logically connected
- Proofread for tone, clarity, and grammar
📖 Scoring Tips for RC
- Don’t read passage in a hurry — understand structure (intro, arguments, conclusion)
- Use keywords from questions to find answers in the passage
- Answer in your own words — no copying
- For inference questions, avoid making assumptions beyond the passage
- Practice RCs from editorial articles to improve interpretation skills
🧠 What RBI Evaluators Look For
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Clarity | Is the answer easy to follow and understand? |
| Relevance | Does it address the topic/question correctly? |
| Structure | Is there a beginning, middle, and end? |
| Language Proficiency | Is grammar correct and vocabulary appropriate? |
| Thoughtfulness | Does the answer show balanced and logical thinking? |
⏳ Bonus: Smart Time Strategy Recap (90-Minutes)
| Section | Suggested Time |
|---|---|
| Essay Writing | 35–40 minutes |
| Precis / Letter | 20–25 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 20–25 minutes |
| Final Review | 3–5 minutes |
📚 Best Practice Tools
- Bank Whizz RBI Grade B Descriptive Mocks
- The Hindu / Indian Express Editorials
- RBI Annual Reports and Speeches
- Grammarly (for grammar checking in practice)
- 10FastFingers.com (for typing practice)
🏁 Final Thoughts
Understanding how the RBI Grade B Descriptive English paper is evaluated is the first step toward optimizing your score. Focus on content quality, language clarity, and structure — not just on word count. Avoid the common traps that many fall into: poor planning, grammar errors, and off-topic answers.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Follow exact formats for each section
- Proofread your answers before submission
- Practice with evaluation-based mock tests
- Think clearly, write concisely, and present logically
With these strategies and clear awareness of what evaluators look for, you can confidently aim for 80+ out of 100 in RBI Grade B 2025 Descriptive English.