Common Mistakes to Avoid in RBI Grade B Descriptive English 2025

Introduction

The RBI Grade B Descriptive English Paper is a golden opportunity for aspirants to showcase clarity of thought, language skills, and structured presentation. However, many well-prepared candidates lose marks not because of lack of knowledge, but due to avoidable mistakes in essay writing, precis summarization, letter drafting, and comprehension questions.

This article highlights the most common mistakes made by candidates and provides actionable strategies to correct them. Avoiding these pitfalls can easily push your score from average to outstanding.

📝 Overview of the Descriptive English Paper

Section	Marks	Word Limit	Format
Essay Writing	40	~600 words	1 out of 4 topics
Precis OR Letter	30	~140 or ~250 words	1 task
Reading Comprehension	30	5–6 questions	1 passage
Total	100	90 minutes	3 tasks

❌ Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid Across Sections

❗ Mistake 1: Poor Time Management

Impact: Rushing through sections, skipping answers, or exceeding word limits.
Why It Happens: No pre-decided time split, spending too long on one task.

Fix:

Essay: 35–40 mins
Precis/Letter: 20–25 mins
RC: 20–25 mins
Use a stopwatch during mocks to develop speed.

❗ Mistake 2: Ignoring Word Limits

Impact: Penalties for underwriting or overwriting; structural imbalance.
Examples:

Writing 800 words in an essay meant for 600.
Writing a precis over 160 words instead of the required ~140.

Fix:

Stick to ±5% range.
Practice with a word counter.
Don’t over-explain — be concise and direct.

❗ Mistake 3: Weak Essay Structure

Impact: Messy presentation, lack of flow, confusing arguments.
Common Errors:

No intro or conclusion
Paragraphs without transitions
Rambling thoughts

Fix:
Use this 3-part structure:

Introduction – define, introduce, provide context
Body – 2–3 paragraphs with arguments and examples
Conclusion – summarize and give a forward-looking suggestion

❗ Mistake 4: Using Informal Language

Impact: Low marks due to casual tone and unprofessional vocabulary.
Examples:

“Nowadays, everyone is into social media…”
“Govt should def do more.”

Fix:

Use formal tone and avoid contractions (don’t, can’t).
Avoid slang or emotional outbursts.
Replace “get” with “obtain”, “a lot” with “significant”, etc.

❗ Mistake 5: Lack of Practice with Typing

Impact: Incomplete answers due to slow typing speed; unedited typos.
Fix:

Practice typing essays and precis on a computer.
Maintain at least 30 WPM typing speed.
Simulate exam environment.

📝 Section-Specific Mistakes and Remedies

✍️ Essay Writing Mistakes

❌ 1. Writing Generic Content

Candidates often use vague sentences without facts.

Fix:
Support arguments with data, reports (e.g., RBI, NITI Aayog), or current events.

❌ 2. Off-Topic Writing

Misinterpreting the topic can cost 50–70% of marks.

Fix:
Read topic 2–3 times before writing. Make a bullet-point plan of what to cover.

❌ 3. Repetition of Ideas

Saying the same point in different words to reach word count.

Fix:
Use multi-dimensional perspectives – economic, social, ethical, etc.

❌ 4. No Proper Conclusion

Ending abruptly or repeating the introduction.

Fix:
Summarize your arguments and offer a positive or solution-oriented end.

✂️ Precis Writing Mistakes

❌ 1. Copying Sentences from the Passage

This defeats the purpose of summarization.

Fix:
Use your own words. Reconstruct sentences while keeping meaning intact.

❌ 2. Including Personal Opinion

Adding your views (“I think…”) lowers the score.

Fix:
Stay objective. Precis must reflect the author’s tone, not yours.

❌ 3. Missing the Central Idea

Many write just the opening or closing ideas.

Fix:
Understand the passage holistically and identify 2–3 key supporting arguments.

❌ 4. Writing in Multiple Paragraphs

Unless asked, always write a single-paragraph precis.

✉️ Letter Writing Mistakes (if asked)

❌ 1. Wrong Format

Missing “To”, “Subject”, or salutation.

Fix:
Follow this standard:

To  
The Branch Manager  
XYZ Bank, Mumbai  

Subject: Request for Cheque Book Dispatch  

Sir/Madam,  
[Body in 2–3 paras]  

Yours faithfully,  
Your Name

❌ 2. Emotional or Informal Tone

Letters must remain professional.

Fix:
Use phrases like:

“I am writing to request…”
“Kindly take necessary steps…”
“I shall be grateful if…”

📖 Reading Comprehension Mistakes

❌ 1. Over-Reading or Under-Reading

Reading the passage too fast or too slowly hampers accuracy.

Fix:
Skim for structure, then scan for answers using keywords.

❌ 2. Assuming Information

Answering questions based on your own knowledge, not the passage.

Fix:
Stick strictly to the passage content. RBI tests comprehension, not memory.

❌ 3. Ignoring Tone and Inference Questions

These often carry high weight and test critical thinking.

Fix:
Understand author’s emotion: is it persuasive, skeptical, analytical, critical?

✅ Final Checklist to Avoid Mistakes

✅ Essay:

Have I written ~600 words?
Is the essay structured in Intro–Body–Conclusion?
Did I support my arguments with relevant facts?
Have I avoided repetition and vagueness?

✅ Precis/Letter:

Is my precis ~140 words and single paragraph?
Is the central idea covered clearly?
Did I avoid personal opinions?
If letter, is format and tone correct?

✅ Reading Comprehension:

Did I read the questions before answering?
Did I locate answers using keywords?
Have I interpreted inference questions properly?

📚 Best Practice Strategy to Minimize Mistakes

Week	Focus Area	Key Activities
1	Essay Format & Content	Write 2 essays and review structure
2	Precis & RC	Practice 3 precis and 4 RCs
3	Mock Paper Practice	Attempt 1 full-length Descriptive mock
4	Error Review & Final Polish	List past mistakes and fix them

🏁 Conclusion

Avoiding common mistakes in the RBI Grade B Descriptive English paper can boost your marks significantly, often by 10–15 marks. While preparation is essential, execution is what sets top scorers apart.

🔑 Final Advice:

Think clearly before writing
Structure everything properly
Maintain formal tone and word limits
Manage time wisely
Don’t let typing or formatting bring you down

Success in Descriptive English is not just about being good at English — it’s about being smart with your preparation and precise in your writing.