In the SBI CBO 2025 Descriptive English paper, you get just 30 minutes to write two questions — one essay (250 words) and one letter (150–200 words). With no second chances and every mark counting toward your selection, managing your time becomes as important as your writing skills.
This article gives you a practical and exam-oriented Time Management Strategy to help you write structured, relevant, and grammatically sound content within the limited time — and with enough room for proofreading.
📘 SBI CBO Descriptive Paper: A Quick Recap
| Section | No. of Questions | Word Limit | Marks | Time (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Writing | 1 | ~250 words | 25 | |
| Letter Writing | 1 | ~150–200 words | 25 | 30 minutes |
🔹 Mode: Online
🔹 Typing required: Yes
🔹 Nature: Qualifying, but scoring high boosts your selection chances
🎯 The 30-Minute Challenge: Why It’s Tough
Many candidates:
- Spend too much time on the first question (usually the essay)
- Don’t plan before writing
- Miss out on proofreading
- Submit incomplete or unstructured responses
A good candidate scores 30–35. A smart candidate with the right time strategy can score 45–50.
Let’s break it down.
⏱️ Ideal Time Allocation Strategy
Here’s a tested time allocation plan that lets you complete both answers, with quality and clarity.
| Task | Suggested Time |
|---|---|
| Essay Planning | 2 mins |
| Essay Writing | 12–13 mins |
| Letter Planning | 1 min |
| Letter Writing | 11–12 mins |
| Final Proofreading | 1–2 mins |
| Total | 30 mins |
✅ This structure gives you time to think, write, and revise — without rushing.
✍️ Step-by-Step Time Management Guide
🔹 Step 1: Read Both Questions (1 Minute)
- Read the essay and letter prompts carefully.
- Decide the order based on which one you feel more confident about (ideally, start with essay).
Tip: Don’t start typing immediately. Take 60 seconds to fully understand both prompts.
🔹 Step 2: Plan Your Essay (2 Minutes)
- Quickly jot down key points in your mind or as bullet points in the text box (if allowed).
- Frame your structure:
- Intro: Definition/context
- Body: 2–3 arguments or data points
- Conclusion: Suggestive/future outlook
Why Plan?
Writing without planning leads to repetition, unstructured flow, and missed key points.
🔹 Step 3: Write Essay (12–13 Minutes)
- Stick to 3 paragraphs (Intro – Body – Conclusion).
- Don’t exceed 250 words.
- Use simple language, short sentences.
- Type confidently — avoid excessive deleting/backspacing.
Time Tip:
If you’re on word 125 by 6–7 minutes, you’re on track. Speed up if below.
🔹 Step 4: Plan Letter (1 Minute)
- Identify letter type: Complaint / Request / Informative
- Recall standard format:
- Sender & receiver address
- Subject line
- Salutation + Body (3 parts) + Closing
Quickly think through:
- Purpose of the letter
- Details to include
- Action to request
🔹 Step 5: Write Letter (11–12 Minutes)
- Format is non-negotiable. Follow the structure strictly.
- Keep tone professional and respectful.
- Stick to 150–200 words — being concise shows professionalism.
Don’t Waste Time On:
- Rewriting sentences
- Unnecessary greetings or repetition
- Over-describing the situation
🔹 Step 6: Final Proofreading (1–2 Minutes)
- Quickly scan both answers for:
- Grammar errors
- Spelling mistakes
- Sentence breaks
- Subject line in letter
What to Fix:
- Missing articles (a/an/the)
- Capitalization (names, designations)
- Overuse of “also”, “however”, “so”
📌 Sample Timing Scenario (Live Simulation)
Imagine you start the Descriptive Test at 11:00 AM:
| Time Slot | Task |
|---|---|
| 11:00–11:01 | Read both questions |
| 11:01–11:03 | Plan essay |
| 11:03–11:16 | Type essay (250 words) |
| 11:16–11:17 | Plan letter |
| 11:17–11:28 | Type letter (150–200 words) |
| 11:28–11:30 | Proofread both answers |
Done. ✅
🧠 How to Practice Time Management Before the Exam
1. Use a Timer Every Day
- Use your mobile stopwatch or websites like timer.onlineclock.net
- Set 30 minutes strict limit
- Simulate full paper — essay + letter in one sitting
2. Improve Typing Speed
Typing slowly will ruin your timing plan. Aim for:
- Speed: 30–40 words per minute
- Accuracy: 95% or higher
Best tools:
3. Avoid These Time-Wasting Habits
| Bad Habit | Time Lost | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Editing as you type | 2–3 mins | Complete writing, edit later |
| Thinking while typing | 3–4 mins | Plan first, write later |
| Overthinking structure | 1–2 mins | Follow 3-paragraph rule |
| Rewriting full paragraphs | 4+ mins | Just fix errors, don’t rewrite |
🔥 Pro Tips to Maximize Output in 30 Minutes
✅ Use Templates (Mentally)
Have mental templates ready for:
- Essay structure: 3 para model
- Letter structure: Address → Subject → Body → Sign-off
✅ Avoid Fluff
Every sentence should add value. Don’t use fillers like:
- “As we all know…”
- “It is very important to note that…”
→ Instead, go straight to the point.
✅ Stick to One Example Per Argument
Overloading examples wastes words and time.
📚 How Bank Whizz Helps You Master Time
Bank Whizz offers:
- Real-time timed mocks simulating 30-minute exam pressure
- Evaluation service to assess completion and quality
- Typing-based submission portal
- Daily 30-minute challenge for Descriptive English
🧠 Practicing under pressure builds writing instinct, not just knowledge.
📅 5-Day Time-Based Practice Plan
| Day | Focus Area | Task Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essay-only timed test | 13 mins |
| 2 | Letter-only timed test | 12 mins |
| 3 | Full mock test (essay+letter) | 30 mins |
| 4 | Typing + proofreading drills | 20 mins |
| 5 | Evaluation and rewriting | Variable |
🏁 Final Words
In SBI CBO 2025 Descriptive English, time is your biggest asset — and your biggest challenge.
If you fail to manage it, even strong writing skills may fall short.
But if you follow a smart, practiced strategy:
✅ 2 mins planning
✅ 25–26 mins writing
✅ 2 mins proofreading
—you can submit polished, high-quality responses within the clock.
Want to practice SBI CBO mocks in real-time with evaluation?
Join the Bank Whizz Descriptive Master Plan and take your preparation to the finish line with confidence and precision.