In the IBPS PO 2025 Mains Descriptive Paper, candidates will face a Reading Comprehension (RC) passage along with an essay. Many aspirants underestimate this section, but with 5–6 questions carrying significant marks, RC can become a decisive scoring area. The key lies in applying a smart formula that balances speed with accuracy.
1. The 5-Step Quick Formula
Step 1: Skim the Passage First (1–2 minutes)
- Quickly glance through the passage to understand the theme (finance, economy, ethics, society).
- Don’t focus on details at first—just get the big picture.
👉 Example: If the passage is on AI in banking, note keywords like automation, efficiency, risks.
Step 2: Read Questions Before Deep Reading
- Check what is being asked (main idea, inference, vocabulary, data).
- This helps you read the passage with a purpose.
👉 If the question asks “What is the main challenge of AI adoption in banks?”, you’ll focus on challenge-related sentences.
Step 3: Go Back to Passage for Evidence
- Always lift answers from the passage; don’t rely on outside knowledge.
- Use exact keywords and synonyms from the question to spot the answer.
👉 If asked: “What role does AI play in fraud detection?”, find the part mentioning fraud prevention / unusual transaction detection.
Step 4: Keep Answers Short and Clear
- 50–80 words per answer is sufficient (unless specified).
- Avoid repetition. Stick to what the passage says.
❌ Wrong: AI is good, it helps in many things, like customer service, fraud prevention, etc.
✅ Right: AI helps banks detect suspicious transactions instantly, reducing fraud and improving trust.
Step 5: Check Grammar & Word Limit
- Even in comprehension, evaluators check language.
- Avoid spelling/grammar errors.
- Keep answers structured: one or two crisp sentences each.
2. Common Question Types & How to Handle Them
- Main Idea → Summarize in one line.
- “The passage highlights how AI is transforming banking with both opportunities and challenges.”
- Inference → Read between the lines, but stay logical.
- If passage says “digital literacy is low in rural areas,” inference: “Financial inclusion needs awareness drives in villages.”
- Vocabulary → Replace the given word with a synonym that fits the context.
- “Transparent” → clear, open, visible.
- Specific Detail → Directly copy/rephrase from passage.
3. Time Management Formula for RC
Since you have 30 minutes total for Descriptive Paper:
- Essay → 16–18 minutes
- Comprehension → 12–14 minutes
Within RC:
- 2 minutes → Skim passage + read questions
- 9–10 minutes → Answer questions
- 1–2 minutes → Proofread
4. Example (Mini Demo)
Passage snippet:
“India’s demographic challenges, especially an aging population, are pushing policymakers to explore pension reforms and use AI-driven systems to manage long-term savings efficiently.”
Q: What problem is India facing according to the passage?
A: India is facing demographic challenges, particularly an aging population.
Q: How can AI help in pension reforms?
A: AI can manage long-term savings more efficiently and support policymaking.
5. Final Exam-Day Reminders
- Don’t overthink RC – answers are within the passage.
- Write to the point, avoid unnecessary filler words.
- Practice 2–3 passages on trending issues before the exam (AI, climate change, digital banking, ethics).
- Always keep your language neat and formal.
✅ Takeaway:
With this quick formula – Skim → Read Questions → Evidence → Short Answers → Proofread – Reading Comprehension becomes one of the easiest scoring sections in IBPS PO 2025 Descriptive Paper.