Essay and Comprehension in IBPS PO Mains 2025 – Strategy for 20+/25

When it comes to the IBPS PO Mains, most aspirants pour their effort into the objective sections (Reasoning, English, Quant, GA, etc.). But the descriptive section (Essay + Comprehension) is a golden opportunity: it can make or break your final score. If you can nail it, a full 20+/25 is entirely within reach.

In this post, following have been shared:

The latest format & changes you must know
What examiners look for
A step-by-step preparation roadmap
Day-of-exam time & writing strategy
Common pitfalls & how to avoid them

Let’s dive in.

✅ Latest Format & Updates (2025) You Must Know

Before strategizing, you must be crystal clear about what to expect. Here’s the current format (as of 2025) and what’s changed:

Exam pattern & weightage

In IBPS PO Mains, the descriptive test (Essay + Comprehension) carries 25 marks and has to be done in 30 minutes.
Earlier, there used to be letter-writing along with essay; now letter-writing is removed, replaced by comprehension.
Breakdown (typical): Essay ~15 marks, Comprehension ~10 marks.
The descriptive section is fully typing-based (on computer).
The objective part of Mains has 145 questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes. Then you get 30 additional minutes for the descriptive.

Recent & relevant updates

The number of objective questions in the Mains was reduced (from 155 to 145).
The timing for each section and the weight of some sections have been tweaked.
Be aware: the mains exam is scheduled on October 12, 2025.

Because of these changes, your strategy must adapt. You can’t rely on old formats or old question distributions.

🎯 What the Examiners Look For (Rubric)

To score full marks, your writing has to align with what the examiner/evaluation system rewards. Keep these criteria in mind:

Criterion	What It Means	What You Should Do
Relevance to topic / coherence	Stay on topic, logical flow from intro → body → conclusion	Make a quick plan/outline before writing
Content / depth / examples	Bring in strong points, data/examples, balanced discussion	Use current affairs, facts, statistics (if known)
Language & grammar	Correct grammar, varied sentence structures, vocabulary	Use transition words (“however,” “furthermore,” etc.), avoid repetition
Vocabulary & expressions	Use more formal, varied vocabulary appropriately	Avoid forced “big words” — clarity matters more
Spelling, punctuation, typing accuracy	Typos, spelling mistakes can cost marks	Practice typing; proofread last 30 seconds
Comprehension accuracy & succinctness	Answers must reflect the passage, in own words, without copying	Paraphrase, keep answers short and precise

👉 The descriptive paper is often evaluated (in part) through automated systems, so spelling, grammar, coherence, and typing mistakes are especially risky.

🛠 Preparation Roadmap (8–10 Weeks)

Here’s a suggested schedule and practices to steadily build excellence:

Phase 1: Foundation & Reading (Weeks 1–2)

Topic mapping
Prepare a list of 25–30 commonly recurring themes (economy, banking reforms, digital finance, sustainability, ethics, etc.).
Read 1–2 high-quality editorials per day on those themes. Summarize them in ~100 words each.
Vocabulary & expression bank
Maintain a “Descriptive Lexicon” — collocations, phrases, connectors, idiomatic usage. Use them in your writing.
Grammar refresh
Focus on verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, prepositions, articles, sentence structure. Clear grammar is non-negotiable.

Phase 2: Writing Practice (Weeks 3–6)

Essay drafts
Twice a week, pick a topic, spend 12 minutes planning, then write a 250–300 word essay in ~12–13 minutes, leaving 3–4 minutes for proofreading.
Get it evaluated (by peers, mentors) for content, coherence, language.
Comprehension drills
Daily: pick 1 passage (~200–250 words) from newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express, etc.), solve 4–5 inference questions. Paraphrase key points. Time yourself.
Mock countdowns
Every Sunday, simulate full 30 min descriptive test (essay + comprehension). This builds stamina and time sense.
Typing speed & accuracy
Use Notepad / MS Word to type your essays & summaries. Aim for 35–40 wpm with very few errors.
Practice on a keyboard similar to exam hall if possible.

Phase 3: Refinement & Strategy (Weeks 7–10)

Analyze your errors
Maintain an error log — common mistakes, weak vocab, repetition, logical jumps — and work on eliminating them.
Topic blitz
In these weeks, pick less frequent or abstract topics (e.g., “resilience,” “digital divide”) and write on them. This readies you for surprises.
Peer review & swap essays
Get feedback and also evaluate others’ work. You’ll spot blind spots in your own writing.
Final mock series
Do 5–8 timed descriptive mocks, ideally under conditions (no distractions, only 30 min). Check whether you’re consistently scoring 22+. Focus on consistency, not just one good essay.

🕒 Strategy During the Exam — How to Get 20+/25

Here’s a minute-by-minute or segment-wise guide for the exam day:

Segment	Time Allotted	What to Do	Tips & Priorities
Reading / analyzing prompt / planning	3–4 minutes	Read essay prompt carefully, jot down 3–4 key points & structure, decide order of paragraphs	Don’t skip planning — ensures coherence
Writing essay body	~10 minutes	Write introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion	Use transition words and variety in sentence structure
Proofread / polish essay	~1 minute	Check spelling, punctuation, grammar, coherence	Fix glaring mistakes, delete small parts if off-topic
Read comprehension passage	2 minutes	Read thoroughly, note key points, underline clauses	Get a sense of tone and author’s central idea
Answer comprehension questions	~5–6 minutes	For each question, answer in ~30–40 words, in your own words	Avoid copying; link back to passage, be precise
Review & final check	~1 minute	See if any answer is incomplete, check for glaring errors	Use this time to fix small slips

Important pointers:

Stick to word limit: Essay ~250–300 words usually. Exceeding by a lot or writing too little penalizes.
Quality over quantity: Better to write 3–4 strong, well-argued paragraphs than 5 superficial ones.
Don’t deviate: Avoid injecting irrelevant content or too many side stories.
Type with confidence: Don’t waste time deleting small mistakes; move on unless it’s a serious error.

⚠ Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Pitfall	Why It Happens	How to Avoid
Overwriting / verbose style	Trying to “show off” big words	Keep clarity and logic your priority
Copying from comprehension passage	Temptation under time pressure	Always paraphrase; answer directly
Running out of time	Poor planning / slow typing	Simulate many full tests; monitor time
Repetition of ideas or vocabulary	Lack of variety / weak preparation	Maintain a vocab bank, read broadly
Ignoring proofreading	Too busy or overconfident	Always reserve a minute to check
Off-topic drift	Poor interpretation	Spend initial 1–2 min understanding prompt properly

📈 Why Scoring 20+/25 Descriptive Helps So Much

It boosts overall percentile because many aspirants ignore or under-prepare descriptive.
Even if you lose a few marks in objective sections, a full 25 gives buffer room.
It demonstrates your communication skills, clarity of thought — traits banks value in a PO.

When objective sections get competitive and cutoffs tighten, the descriptive section becomes a decisive differentiator.

🧠 Final Tips & Mindset Before the Exam

Revision day before exam
Don’t write new essays. Instead, revise your lexicon, error log, and read a fresh editorial or two.
Stay updated
Many essay topics are drawn from current affairs — digital banking, fintech, climate policy, post-pandemic recovery. Make sure you read newspapers / banking news till the last day.
Maintain calm
Never start writing in panic. Stick to your practiced rhythm and structure.
Time discipline
If an idea is taking too long, move on and return (if time remains). Better to cover all points adequately.
Positive mindset
Trust your preparation. Your writing has improved through mocks, so have confidence in execution.