With SBI PO Mains 2026 scheduled for 12 September 2026, candidates are now in the final phase of preparation. At this stage, Precis Writing is not something you should prepare by memorising model summaries. It is a skill that must be practised under time pressure.

Many aspirants assume that Precis Writing is simply about shortening a passage.

It is not.

A good précis must preserve the central idea, logical flow and essential arguments of the original passage, while removing examples, repetition, illustrations and unnecessary details.

That is why a candidate with good English can still struggle with précis writing.

The challenge is not merely:

“Can you understand the passage?”

The real challenge is:

“Can you identify what matters, discard what does not, and reconstruct the essential argument concisely in your own words?”

For SBI PO Mains 2026, this ability should now be developed through timed practice rather than passive reading.

What Is Precis Writing?

A précis is a concise and coherent restatement of a longer passage.

It should communicate the essence of the original passage without changing the author’s meaning.

A good précis is:

shorter than the original passage,
complete in itself,
written largely in your own words,
logically organised,
objective in tone,
free from unnecessary examples and repetition,
and faithful to the original argument.

Think of it this way:

Original Passage = Main Idea + Arguments + Explanations + Examples + Repetition

Precis = Main Idea + Essential Arguments + Logical Conclusion

Your job is not merely to cut words.

Your job is to compress thought.

Why Precis Writing Becomes Difficult Under Exam Pressure

When candidates practise at home without a timer, they may spend several minutes reading the passage repeatedly.

The examination does not offer that luxury.

You have to:

Read → Understand → Identify → Organise → Write → Review

within a limited overall descriptive-test window.

This creates five common problems:

1. Candidates copy sentences from the passage.

2. They retain too many examples.

3. They miss the central argument.

4. They compress individual sentences instead of the passage as a whole.

5. They spend too much time on the précis and compromise other descriptive tasks.

Therefore, your last-minute strategy should focus on developing a repeatable process.

The Bank Whizz Precis Writing Framework

For the remaining days, remember:

READ → IDENTIFY → FILTER → ORGANISE → COMPRESS → REVIEW

Let’s understand each step.

Step 1: READ for Meaning, Not for Words

During the first reading, do not start mentally rewriting every sentence.

Ask:

What is this passage fundamentally trying to tell me?

Suppose a 450-word passage discusses:

rapid adoption of digital banking,
increased convenience,
rising cyber fraud,
poor customer awareness,
responsibility of banks,
need for digital literacy.

The central idea is not simply:

“Digital banking is increasing.”

A better understanding is:

Digital banking has improved convenience, but its sustainable expansion requires stronger cybersecurity and customer awareness.

That sentence becomes your anchor.

Step 2: IDENTIFY the Core Argument

After reading, mentally identify three things:

Beginning: What issue does the author introduce?

Middle: What major arguments/problems does the author develop?

End: What conclusion or solution does the author reach?

This gives you the skeleton of your précis.

For example:

Beginning: Digital banking has expanded rapidly.

Middle: Convenience has been accompanied by fraud and awareness challenges.

End: Banks and customers must strengthen security and digital literacy.

Now you have a logical structure.

Step 3: FILTER Ruthlessly

This is where much of the scoring difference emerges.

Ask of every idea:

“If I remove this, will the central meaning of the passage change?”

If the answer is no, it may not deserve space in the précis.

Usually remove:

detailed examples,
anecdotes,
quotations,
repeated arguments,
lengthy explanations,
descriptive illustrations,
minor statistics,
rhetorical questions,
decorative language.

But be careful.

Do not remove a fact simply because it contains a number.

If a statistic is central to the author’s argument, it may need to be represented—perhaps in compressed form.

The principle is:

Remove supporting detail, not essential meaning.

Step 4: ORGANISE Before Writing

Do not immediately start typing after reading the passage.

Take a few seconds to create a mental outline:

Central Idea → Problem/Development → Consequence → Solution/Conclusion

This prevents a common problem: candidates begin strongly but later realise they have used most of their word limit before covering the passage’s conclusion.

Your précis should represent the whole passage, not merely its first half.

Step 5: COMPRESS Ideas, Not Just Sentences

Consider this original-style sentence:

Many customers, particularly senior citizens and people living in rural areas, often hesitate to use mobile banking applications because they lack familiarity with digital technology and remain concerned about online fraud.

A weak précis writer may simply delete a few words.

A better compression is:

Limited digital familiarity and security concerns discourage some customers from adopting mobile banking.

The meaning remains.

The words fall sharply.

That is précis writing.

Step 6: REVIEW the Final Precis

Before submission, check five things:

1. Have I captured the central idea?

2. Have I covered all major arguments?

3. Have I introduced my own opinion?

4. Is the sequence logical?

5. Have I followed the prescribed word limit?

If the précis reads like disconnected bullet points converted into sentences, revise the transitions.

It should feel like a short independent passage, not a collection of fragments.

How to Find the Central Idea Quickly

One of the biggest problems candidates face is:

“I understood everything, but I couldn’t decide what the main idea was.”

Use the ONE-SENTENCE TEST.

After reading the passage, imagine someone asks:

“What was the passage about?”

You get only one sentence to answer.

Whatever you say is probably close to the central idea.

But avoid an answer that is too broad.

For example:

Too broad:

“The passage is about technology.”

Still weak:

“The passage discusses digital banking.”

Better:

“The passage explains how the rapid expansion of digital banking must be supported by cybersecurity and customer awareness to ensure safe and inclusive adoption.”

Now you have identified the author’s actual direction.

Precis Writing vs Summary: What Should SBI Aspirants Remember?

Candidates often become unnecessarily worried about technical distinctions.

For exam preparation, focus on the qualities that matter:

A good précis should be:

Concise – no unnecessary material.

Complete – all major ideas are represented.

Coherent – ideas flow logically.

Objective – no personal opinion.

Independent – understandable without reading the original.

Accurate – the author’s meaning remains intact.

Don’t sacrifice accuracy merely to make the answer shorter.

Should You Use the Author’s Exact Words?

As far as reasonably possible, write in your own language.

However, technical terms and indispensable expressions do not always need artificial replacement.

Suppose the passage repeatedly discusses:

financial inclusion

There is little value in forcing an awkward substitute merely to prove that you can paraphrase.

The real objective is to avoid lifting entire sentences or phrases mechanically.

How to Create a Good Precis Title

If the question requires a title, keep it:

short + specific + connected to the central theme.

For a passage discussing digital banking growth alongside cybersecurity challenges:

Weak Title:

Banking

Better:

Digital Banking

Stronger:

Digital Banking: Growth and Security Challenges

Do not make the title unnecessarily dramatic.

The title should represent the passage—not advertise it.

Last-Minute Precis Strategy for SBI PO Mains 2026

With the exam only days away, do not spend hours studying theoretical rules.

Your preparation should now move through three stages.

Stage 1: Accuracy

Take a passage and write a précis without severe time pressure.

Check whether you have correctly identified the central idea.

Stage 2: Compression

Take another passage and focus specifically on removing examples, repetition and unnecessary explanations.

Stage 3: Timed Execution

Now practise under the time constraint you intend to use in the actual descriptive paper.

At this stage, you are training:

Reading speed + decision-making + typing + compression

together.

Practice Passage for SBI PO Precis Writing 2026

Below is a fresh Bank Whizz practice passage designed around a contemporary banking theme.

Practice Passage: Digital Banking and the Challenge of Inclusion

The rapid expansion of digital banking has transformed the way individuals interact with financial institutions. Services that once required customers to visit a branch, wait in queues and complete physical forms can now be accessed through mobile applications and internet banking platforms. Fund transfers, bill payments, account enquiries and many other routine transactions can be completed within minutes. For banks, digitalisation has also reduced pressure on branches, improved operational efficiency and created opportunities to serve customers beyond traditional geographical limitations.

However, the growth of digital banking has not benefited all customers equally. While younger and technologically familiar users often adapt quickly to new platforms, senior citizens, people with limited digital literacy and customers in areas with poor connectivity may face difficulties. Some customers remain dependent on branch staff for even basic transactions because they are uncomfortable navigating applications or fear making mistakes. If banks focus exclusively on digital adoption without addressing these concerns, technology that is intended to increase accessibility may unintentionally create a new form of exclusion.

Cybersecurity has further complicated this transition. Fraudsters increasingly exploit customers through phishing messages, fraudulent links, fake customer-care numbers and social engineering. In many cases, technological security alone cannot prevent losses if customers unknowingly disclose sensitive information such as passwords, PINs or one-time passwords. Therefore, customer awareness has become as important as technological protection.

Banks must consequently adopt a balanced approach to digital transformation. They should continue investing in secure and user-friendly technology while simultaneously improving digital literacy. Branches can play an important role by demonstrating digital services, assisting vulnerable customers and educating them about safe banking practices. Interfaces should be simple, accessible and available in languages familiar to customers. Effective grievance-redressal mechanisms are also essential so that customers remain confident when something goes wrong.

Digital banking should ultimately be evaluated not merely by the number of transactions shifted online but by whether technology makes banking safer, easier and more inclusive. The long-term success of digital transformation will depend on combining innovation with security, accessibility and human support.

Your Practice Task

Write a précis of the above passage in approximately one-third of its original length, unless your practice platform specifies a different word limit.

Give it a suitable title.

Before looking at the model approach below, attempt it yourself.

This matters.

Reading a model answer first destroys much of the diagnostic value of the exercise.

How to Analyse This Passage

Before writing, identify the structure.

Paragraph 1

Digital banking has improved convenience and efficiency.

Paragraph 2

Benefits are uneven because some customers face digital-access barriers.

Paragraph 3

Cyber fraud and limited awareness create additional risks.

Paragraph 4

Banks need technology + education + assistance + grievance support.

Paragraph 5

Digital transformation should ultimately be secure, accessible and inclusive.

Now compress those five blocks into one coherent argument.

Model Precis

Inclusive and Secure Digital Banking

Digital banking has improved convenience, operational efficiency and access to financial services by enabling customers to perform routine transactions remotely. However, its benefits are not equally accessible to everyone. Senior citizens, digitally inexperienced customers and those facing connectivity constraints may struggle with online platforms, creating the risk of digital exclusion.

Cyber fraud further challenges digital adoption, as technological safeguards may be ineffective when customers unknowingly disclose sensitive information. Banks must therefore combine secure, user-friendly technology with customer education and human assistance. Branches can support vulnerable users through demonstrations, digital-literacy initiatives and awareness of safe banking practices, while effective grievance mechanisms can strengthen confidence.

The success of digital transformation should consequently be measured not only by increased online transactions but also by its ability to make banking secure, accessible, convenient and inclusive.

Why This Precis Works

Notice what has disappeared:

individual examples of banking transactions,
detailed descriptions of queues and forms,
examples of different fraud techniques,
repeated explanations,
secondary illustrations.

But the major argument remains:

Digital banking brings efficiency → unequal digital capability creates exclusion → cyber risks increase vulnerability → banks need security + literacy + assistance → successful digitalisation must be inclusive.

That is compression without distortion.

10 Common Precis Writing Mistakes

1. Writing Far Below the Required Length

Excessive compression can destroy important arguments.

A 400-word passage cannot necessarily be represented adequately in 40 words.

2. Exceeding the Prescribed Limit

A précis is specifically a test of compression.

If you cannot control length, you have not fully demonstrated the skill being tested.

3. Copying Whole Sentences

This indicates limited ability to synthesise and paraphrase.

4. Adding Your Own Opinion

Avoid:

“In my opinion, banks should…”

A précis represents the author’s argument, not yours.

5. Adding Information Not Present in the Passage

Even if you know the subject very well, don’t inject outside knowledge.

If the passage discusses cyber fraud, don’t suddenly add RBI regulations unless the passage itself refers to them.

6. Retaining Too Many Examples

Examples help explain the original passage.

The précis usually needs the idea the examples support, not every example.

7. Compressing Only the First Half

Some candidates spend too many words on the opening paragraphs and rush the conclusion.

Your précis must represent the entire passage.

8. Writing Disconnected Sentences

Compression should not destroy coherence.

Use logical transitions where needed:

However, therefore, consequently, while, although, thus.

9. Choosing a Generic Title

Avoid titles such as:

Technology

Banking

Modern World

Choose a title that captures the central theme.

10. Starting Without Understanding

This is perhaps the biggest mistake.

If you start typing after reading only the first paragraph, you may later discover that the author’s conclusion takes the argument in a different direction.

Read first. Write second.

The Bank Whizz “3-Layer” Technique

When practising, mentally classify information into three layers.

Layer 1 – MUST KEEP

Central idea, major arguments and conclusion.

Layer 2 – KEEP IF NEEDED

Important explanation required to preserve logical flow.

Layer 3 – REMOVE

Examples, repetition, illustrations, decorative detail and secondary information.

This makes compression much easier.

How to Improve Precis Writing in the Remaining Days

Do not attempt ten précis passages in one sitting.

A better method is:

Passage 1

Write normally and identify your weaknesses.

Passage 2

Concentrate on central-idea identification.

Passage 3

Focus on compression.

Passage 4

Focus on paraphrasing.

Passage 5

Attempt under strict exam conditions.

Then attempt Precis Writing as part of a complete SBI PO descriptive simulation.

The purpose is not to accumulate attempts.

The purpose is to eliminate recurring mistakes.

What If Your English Is Average?

Don’t panic.

Precis Writing does not require literary English.

In fact, trying to write sophisticated sentences may increase grammatical errors.

Prefer:

“Digital banking has improved access but has also created challenges for customers with limited digital skills.”

over a complicated sentence you cannot control grammatically.

The examiner needs to understand your ideas immediately.

Clarity is a strength.

One Crucial Skill: Sentence Compression

During the remaining days, practise reducing long sentences.

Original:

Due to the rapid development of technology and widespread availability of smartphones, an increasing number of customers have started using digital channels to perform financial transactions that previously required branch visits.

Compressed:

Smartphone adoption has shifted many financial transactions from branches to digital channels.

Do this exercise with five sentences daily.

It trains your brain to identify meaning rather than wording.

Precis Writing on Exam Day

When you see the passage on 12 September, don’t immediately begin typing.

First determine:

What is the subject?

Then:

What is the author’s central argument about that subject?

Then identify:

What are the 3–5 essential supporting ideas?

Only then begin the précis.

Your objective is not:

“How quickly can I start writing?”

It is:

“How quickly can I understand what deserves to be written?”

Should You Choose Report Writing or Precis Writing?

If your exam interface gives you a choice between Report and Precis, do not decide emotionally.

Choose based on your demonstrated performance in mocks.

If you consistently:

identify central ideas quickly,
paraphrase comfortably,
control the word limit,
and finish précis within your planned time,

Precis may suit you.

If you find that reading and compression consume excessive time while you are comfortable with structured problem-analysis writing, Report Writing may suit you better.

Decide from mock performance—not from guesswork on exam day.

Attempt the Bank Whizz SBI PO 2026 Free Diagnostic

One of the biggest dangers in the final days is false confidence.

You may read the practice passage above and think:

“Yes, I understood it.”

Good.

Now close the model answer and actually write the précis under a timer.

That is the real test.

Bank Whizz’s SBI PO 2026 Descriptive Free Trial/Diagnostic is designed to help candidates experience this gap between understanding a question and producing an exam-ready response.

The diagnostic approach is simple:

Attempt → Evaluation → Identify Weakness → Correct → Re-attempt

If your précis is too short, we identify what essential ideas you dropped.

If it is too long, we identify what should have been compressed.

If the central idea is wrong, we correct your reading approach.

If your language is weak, we work on sentence construction.

This is far more useful in the final days than simply reading another 50 solved answers.

Final Checklist for SBI PO Precis Writing 2026

Before submitting your précis, quickly check:

Central idea captured? ✓

All major arguments represented? ✓

Examples/repetition removed? ✓

Own words used wherever possible? ✓

No personal opinion added? ✓

Logical flow maintained? ✓

Title appropriate, if required? ✓

Word limit followed? ✓

Grammar and spelling checked? ✓

If these are in place, your précis is doing what it is supposed to do.

Final Word from Bank Whizz

With SBI PO Mains only days away, you do not need to become an expert writer overnight.

You need a reliable process.

For Precis Writing, remember:

READ → IDENTIFY → FILTER → ORGANISE → COMPRESS → REVIEW

Do not memorise model précis answers.

Do not blindly cut sentences.

Do not introduce your own knowledge.

Do not sacrifice the central argument just to reduce the word count.

And do not confuse short writing with good précis writing.

A high-quality précis is short because the writer has understood what is essential—not because the writer has randomly removed words.

During these final days, take one passage at a time, write it under realistic conditions, analyse what you missed and correct it in the next attempt.

Because on 12 September 2026, the real advantage will not come from how many model passages you have read.

It will come from your ability to look at an unfamiliar passage, find its core argument quickly and express it clearly, accurately and concisely under time pressure.

Bank Whizz
Practice → Evaluation → Correction → Improvement