Common Mistakes to Avoid in IBPS PO 2025 Descriptive English Paper
As per the official IBPS 2025 notification, the Descriptive English section in the Mains exam consists of two parts: an Essay and a Comprehension, carrying 25 marks total, and you have 30 minutes to complete both. (Essay + Comprehension)
Given the tight time and the weight this section carries, even small mistakes can drag your score down. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them—so your writing is clean, compelling, and exam-ready.
1. Not Familiarising Yourself with the Exact Pattern
Mistake: You assume the old format (Essay + Letter) and prepare only for that.
Why it hurts: In 2025, the letter writing component has been removed, replaced by Comprehension.
How to avoid: In your prep calendar, note the pattern change clearly. Allocate practice time for comprehension passages and not just essays.
2. Misallocating Time Between Tasks
Mistake: Spending excessive time on one section (typically the essay) and rushing the other.
Why it hurts: If comprehension is not answered sufficiently, you lose easy marks.
How to avoid: Decide in mocks a fixed time split (for example, 16 minutes for essay, 11–12 minutes for comprehension, and 2 minutes for proofreading). Stick strictly to that in exam, no matter how confident you feel mid-way.
3. Skipping a Quick Outline
Mistake: Beginning to type immediately without planning structure.
Why it hurts: The writing becomes scattered and may lack coherence or proper flow.
How to avoid: Always spend 1-2 minutes sketching a skeleton for your essay (introduction, 2–3 key points, conclusion). For comprehension, quickly underline or note the main idea and keywords before answering.
4. Gross Violation of Word Limit
Mistake: Writing too little (e.g. under 200 words) or too much (400+ words).
Why it hurts: Examiners (or automated evaluators) may penalize or truncate content beyond the acceptable band.
How to avoid: Target 250–300 words for essays, since most model sources agree on that range. In mocks, practice finishing within that range and train yourself to gauge length.
5. Using Unfamiliar Fancy Vocabulary or Jargon
Mistake: Trying to pepper your writing with obscure words you aren’t fully comfortable with.
Why it hurts: Misuse leads to awkwardness or worse, being penalized for incorrect usage or unclear meaning.
How to avoid: Use simple, strong, correct English. If you use technical words or banking terms, define or contextualize them briefly in plain language.
6. Weak or Vague Introductions / Conclusions
Mistake: Opening with generic statements (“For centuries…”) or ending without a clear takeaway.
Why it hurts: You lose impact and coherence; the conclusion should tie your argument together.
How to avoid:
- Introduction: State the topic, define the scope, present your stance.
- Conclusion: Summarize your key points and provide a practical recommendation or insight.
7. Poor Paragraphing & Lack of Transitions
Mistake: Long walls of text, no breaks, no linking phrases.
Why it hurts: It strains readability; examiners scanning quickly may lose track of your flow.
How to avoid: Use 3–4 paragraphs. Each paragraph should have one central idea. Use transition words (e.g. However, Furthermore, In contrast, Therefore) to connect your logic.
8. Answering Out of Scope in Comprehension
Mistake: Writing what you wish the question asked or memorizing lines.
Why it hurts: Marks are for relevance and response to that specific question.
How to avoid: Read carefully, note the directive (explain, infer, summarise, etc.), and answer in your own words—not copy-paste. Be precise and directly tied to the excerpt.
9. Unsupported or Incorrect Factual Claims
Mistake: Dropping random statistics or policy names you aren’t fully sure of.
Why it hurts: Wrong facts undermine credibility or may be penalized.
How to avoid: Avoid exact numbers unless you are absolutely confident. If you use them, keep them approximate (“around one-third,” “nearly ₹50,000 crore”). Focus more on reasoning than data.
10. Typos, Spelling & Grammar Errors Under Pressure
Mistake: Speeding through without correction.
Why it hurts: Even if content is good, surface errors can drag down your score.
How to avoid: Reserve 2 minutes at the end to proofread. Focus on common pitfalls: subject-verb agreement, articles, tenses, punctuation, repeated words.
11. Practicing on Paper or Mobile Instead of Keyboard
Mistake: Exercising writing on paper or on a phone, then failing in typed environment.
Why it hurts: Typing speed, familiarity with keyboard environment, and editing behavior differ drastically.
How to avoid: Practice regularly typing essays & comprehension in a computer or laptop editor. Get comfortable with backspace, select, copy, paste etc.
12. Overediting While Writing
Mistake: Fixing every typo immediately and breaking flow.
Why it hurts: You lose momentum, and time slips away.
How to avoid: During your first pass, write continuously. Use the reserved proofreading window to correct minor slips and structure.
13. Off-Topic or Weak Examples
Mistake: Mentioning anecdotes or examples that don’t tie to your thesis.
Why it hurts: It distracts, dilutes argument, or may be deemed irrelevant.
How to avoid: Stick to 1–2 concise, relevant examples (policy, scheme, case study) that directly support your point. Tie them explicitly: “This example illustrates my point that…”.
14. Repetition or Filling with Fluff
Mistake: Repeating ideas just to lengthen content.
Why it hurts: It signals weak content control; adds no value, wastes precious words.
How to avoid: Every sentence must add something new (cause, effect, solution, contrast). If you find a sentence repeats, delete or merge it.
15. Lopsided Structure (Only Problems, No Solutions)
Mistake: Writing a long problem section and leaving solutions sketchy or absent.
Why it hurts: Examiners expect balanced writing: diagnosis + remedy.
How to avoid: Use a problem → cause → solution framework. Devote a fair share of space to practical, implementable solutions.
16. Neglecting Scoring Realism
Mistake: Writing an elaborate essay but leaving comprehension shallow (or vice versa).
Why it hurts: Since both carry marks, ignoring one area reduces your total dramatically.
How to avoid: Divide your effort proportionally to marks — complete both questions meaningfully, rather than perfecting one and failing the other.
Final “Last-Minute” Checklist (Use Before Submitting)
- Is my essay around 250–300 words?
- Do I have clear intro, body, conclusion?
- Did I answer exactly what each comprehension question asked?
- Are my answers paraphrased, not copy-pasted?
- Have I used relevant example(s) and tied them to my argument?
- Any obvious grammar / spelling / punctuation errors?
- Did I leave 2 minutes to skim and fix slips?
- Is my structure balanced (issues + causes + solutions)?