Introduction
The ECGC PO 2025 Descriptive English Paper plays a crucial role in the selection process. It consists of Essay Writing and Precis Writing, both of which test your ability to express ideas clearly, concisely, and effectively. However, many candidates lose valuable marks due to avoidable mistakes.
In this guide, we will highlight common mistakes in essay and precis writing and provide tips to improve your performance, ensuring you score high in the ECGC PO 2025 Descriptive Exam.
Common Mistakes in Essay Writing
1. Lack of Proper Structure
🚫 Mistake: Writing an essay in an unorganized manner without a proper introduction, body, and conclusion.
✅ Solution: Follow the IDEAL structure – Introduction, Discussion, End (Conclusion).
Example:
- Introduction (30-40 words) – Define the topic and give a background.
- Main Body (150-170 words) – Discuss facts, challenges, and solutions.
- Conclusion (30-40 words) – Summarize and provide a final thought.
2. Writing Too Much or Too Little
🚫 Mistake: Exceeding the word limit of 250 words or writing much shorter responses.
✅ Solution: Stick to the word limit to avoid penalty marks.
Tip: Practice writing concise yet informative essays within 250 words before the exam.
3. Lack of Relevant Data & Examples
🚫 Mistake: Writing general opinions without supporting facts, statistics, or real-world examples.
✅ Solution: Use data, government reports, and relevant case studies to strengthen your points.
Example: Instead of saying “Financial inclusion has increased in India,” write “According to RBI, financial inclusion in India grew from 53% in 2014 to over 80% in 2023.”
4. Grammatical & Spelling Mistakes
🚫 Mistake: Frequent grammatical errors, incorrect spelling, and poor sentence structure.
✅ Solution:
✔️ Use simple and grammatically correct sentences.
✔️ Proofread your essay to eliminate errors before submission.
Example:
❌ Banking sector is impacted due to various economic trends.
✅ Economic trends significantly impact the banking sector.
5. Writing in an Informal Tone
🚫 Mistake: Using casual language, contractions, or slang words.
✅ Solution: Maintain a formal and professional tone throughout your essay.
❌ “It’s super important to know about digital banking.”
✅ “Understanding digital banking is crucial in today’s economy.”
6. Not Answering the Topic Properly
🚫 Mistake: Deviating from the topic and writing irrelevant content.
✅ Solution:
✔️ Understand the topic clearly before writing.
✔️ Stick to relevant points and avoid unnecessary details.
7. Lack of Coherence and Transition
🚫 Mistake: Writing disjointed paragraphs without logical flow.
✅ Solution: Use transition words to connect ideas.
✔️ For addition: Moreover, Furthermore, Additionally
✔️ For contrast: However, On the other hand, Nevertheless
✔️ For conclusion: In conclusion, To summarize, Ultimately
Common Mistakes in Precis Writing
1. Copy-Pasting Sentences from the Passage
🚫 Mistake: Copying exact sentences instead of summarizing in your own words.
✅ Solution: Always paraphrase the content while keeping the original meaning intact.
Example:
- Original Sentence: The Indian government has introduced several policies to promote financial inclusion among rural populations.
- Paraphrased Precis: Several government policies aim to enhance financial inclusion in rural India.
2. Exceeding the Word Limit
🚫 Mistake: Writing more than 150 words instead of keeping it concise.
✅ Solution: Remove examples, unnecessary details, and redundant phrases to keep within the limit.
3. Missing a Suitable Title
🚫 Mistake: Not providing a relevant title to the precis.
✅ Solution: Ensure the title reflects the core theme of the passage.
Example: If the passage is about the impact of digital banking in India, a suitable title could be “The Rise of Digital Banking in India”.
4. Lack of Coherence & Logical Flow
🚫 Mistake: Writing a precis with disconnected ideas.
✅ Solution: Arrange ideas logically and cohesively in a single paragraph.
5. Adding Personal Opinions
🚫 Mistake: Including personal views instead of summarizing the author’s idea.
✅ Solution: A precis should be neutral, objective, and factual.
Time Management Tips for ECGC PO Descriptive Paper
✔️ Plan before writing to avoid mistakes.
✔️ Review your work in the last few minutes for errors.
Final Tips to Score High in ECGC PO Descriptive English
✔️ Practice Regularly – Write at least one essay and one precis per week.
✔️ Improve Vocabulary & Grammar – Read newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express.
✔️ Stick to a Formal & Clear Writing Style – Avoid casual phrases and vague statements.
✔️ Time Yourself While Practicing – This will help you complete the paper within 40 minutes.
✔️ Proofread Before Submission – Fix any errors in grammar, structure, and coherence.
Conclusion
Scoring well in the ECGC PO 2025 Descriptive English exam requires structured writing, proper grammar, and time management. By avoiding these common mistakes in essay and precis writing, you can maximize your marks and improve your overall exam performance.
Start practicing today and stay connected with Bank Whizz for expert guidance, mock tests, and writing tips to help you succeed in ECGC PO 2025!