The PFRDA Grade A Mains Descriptive English Paper can make or break your final selection. While you may have practiced essays, précis, and comprehension, the final polish often comes from strong grammar, precise vocabulary, and an effective writing style. On the last day, it’s not about learning something new—it’s about avoiding mistakes and applying what you already know with confidence.
Below is your Final Day Checklist—organized into Grammar, Vocabulary, and Style, with practical examples drawn from exam-like contexts.
1. Grammar: Accuracy First
A well-written essay with flawed grammar immediately reduces your credibility. Keep these points in mind:
✅ Subject–Verb Agreement
- Wrong: The challenges of pension reforms is critical.
- Correct: The challenges of pension reforms are critical.
✅ Tense Consistency
- If you start your essay in the present tense, maintain it.
- Example (Essay Topic: “Role of Pension Reforms in Financial Inclusion”):
- Wrong: Pension reforms play a crucial role and improved inclusion in the past.
- Correct: Pension reforms play a crucial role and continue to improve inclusion.
✅ Avoid Long, Confusing Sentences
- Use short sentences for clarity.
- Wrong: The government, which is facing fiscal pressure, and the citizens, who expect more benefits, together create a scenario which makes reforms a complex but necessary process.
- Correct: Fiscal pressures and rising expectations make reforms complex, yet necessary.
2. Vocabulary: Precision Over Ornamentation
You don’t need rare or flowery words. Instead, focus on precise, topic-relevant vocabulary.
✅ Use Banking & Finance Keywords
- Words like “financial literacy, sustainability, demographic dividend, regulatory oversight, inclusion, digital penetration, fiscal discipline, corpus management” impress examiners.
Example (Precis Source Passage):
Original sentence: Pension funds are increasingly adopting green finance mechanisms to ensure sustainability.
Précis version: Pension funds integrate sustainable finance for long-term stability.
✅ Avoid Repetition
- Wrong: The scheme is important because it is important for people’s welfare.
- Correct: The scheme is vital for enhancing public welfare.
✅ Replace Informal Words with Formal Alternatives
- “Get” → “Obtain”
- “Big” → “Significant”
- “Lot of” → “Substantial”
3. Style: Clarity, Structure & Flow
The PFRDA paper rewards organized, logical, and formal style.
✅ Follow a 3-Part Structure in Essays
- Introduction → Define/Frame the topic.
- Body → Present 2–3 arguments with examples.
- Conclusion → Summarize + forward-looking suggestion.
Example (Essay: “Impact of Digital Finance on Retirement Planning”):
- Introduction: Define digital finance in pensions.
- Body: Benefits (wider reach, transparency), Challenges (digital divide, cyber risk).
- Conclusion: Balanced note + suggest regulatory safeguards.
✅ Active Voice is Preferred
- Wrong: It is believed that reforms should be implemented by regulators.
- Correct: Regulators must implement reforms.
✅ Paragraphing & Flow
- Avoid one-block essays.
- Each paragraph = one idea.
✅ Formal Tone
- Wrong: We all know pension is super important for everyone.
- Correct: Pension is a critical pillar of social security.
4. Quick Final-Day Do’s & Don’ts
Do’s:
- Revise basic grammar rules (subject-verb, tense, articles).
- Keep connectors handy: Moreover, Therefore, However, In addition, Thus.
- Practice 1 essay + 1 précis + 1 comprehension under timed conditions.
Don’ts:
- Don’t overuse quotations or statistics unless sure.
- Don’t start essays with “I think” or “In my opinion.”
- Don’t memorize full essays—adapt to the topic given.
5. Sample Mini-Practice (Real Exam Pattern)
Essay Question (PFRDA 2023 style):
“Demographic Dividend and the Challenges of an Ageing Population”
- Intro: Define demographic dividend, link to pensions.
- Body:
- Opportunities: youth bulge, productivity, innovation.
- Challenges: ageing, healthcare burden, pension sustainability.
- Conclusion: Balanced approach—skill development + robust pension reforms.
Precis Example (Passage theme: Role of Social Security):
- Passage length: 230 words
- Required Precis: ~80 words
- Strategy: Cut redundancies, preserve essence.
✅ Final Words
On the eve of the PFRDA Grade A Descriptive English exam, remember this golden rule: Write simply, clearly, and correctly. Examiners are not looking for Shakespearean flair—they want to see whether you can communicate ideas effectively in a professional, regulatory context.
Stay calm, revise this checklist, and walk into the exam with confidence.
All the best for tomorrow! 🚀