When you sit for the PFRDA Grade A Mains (Descriptive English), your performance is not judged merely by how much you write, but by how effectively you communicate your thoughts. Examiners are trained to assess your answers within a few minutes, so every word you write must add value. Understanding their perspective is crucial to maximize your marks.
1. Clarity of Thought and Expression
Examiners expect clear, logical, and concise answers. Your writing should convey ideas without ambiguity. Avoid long, winding sentences that confuse the reader.
- Weak Example:
“The economy is facing many problems like inflation, unemployment, and also rural distress, which are the reasons that the government has to make schemes and also implement them in a way that reaches to people.” - Strong Example:
“The Indian economy faces challenges such as inflation, unemployment, and rural distress. Hence, government schemes must focus not only on design but also on effective implementation.”
Notice how the second version is crisp and impactful.
2. Adherence to Word Limit and Structure
In essays, precis, or comprehension-based answers, sticking to the word limit shows discipline and time management. Exceeding it indicates poor planning, while writing too little shows superficial understanding.
- Essay: An essay of 250 words should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Writing 400 words dilutes quality; writing 150 words makes it underdeveloped.
- Precis: Must be one-third of the original passage, not a random summary.
- Comprehension: Answers should be precise; avoid copy-pasting entire sentences from the passage.
Examiner’s Note: Many candidates lose marks for writing brilliant but overly long essays that don’t respect the word cap.
3. Content Depth and Relevance
Examiners award higher marks for content-rich answers that show awareness of current issues, relevant data, and balanced arguments.
- Essay Example:
If the essay topic is “Green Finance and Pension Funds”, a high-scoring answer will:- Define the concept clearly.
- Provide examples (e.g., SEBI’s ESG norms, RBI’s green bond framework, global pension fund models).
- Present both opportunities and risks.
- Conclude with constructive suggestions.
Answers that remain vague—“Green finance is good for the environment and pension funds should adopt it”—fetch average marks.
4. Grammar, Vocabulary, and Language Polishing
Examiners are not looking for Shakespearean English but expect error-free, professional language.
- Avoid grammatical slips: subject–verb disagreement, misplaced articles, wrong tenses.
- Use formal vocabulary: prefer “therefore” instead of “so”, “significant” instead of “big”.
- Maintain tone: formal, objective, and analytical.
Example:
Instead of writing “The government did a lot of things to improve rural credit”, write “The government introduced multiple initiatives to strengthen rural credit access, such as priority sector lending norms and financial inclusion drives.”
5. Originality and Analytical Insight
Copy-pasting phrases from the passage (in comprehension/precis) or using clichés (in essays) shows lack of originality. Examiners value your ability to interpret, analyze, and add perspective.
- Comprehension Example: If asked, “What are the benefits of minimum wage policy?”
- Poor Answer: “Minimum wage improves standard of living and reduces migration.”
- Strong Answer: “A well-implemented minimum wage policy not only uplifts vulnerable workers but also strengthens aggregate demand, thereby contributing to a stable middle class and balanced economic growth.”
6. Time Management and Balanced Coverage
Examiners notice if your answer looks rushed. Spending too much time on one section often leads to incomplete or poorly attempted sections. Balanced coverage across essay, precis, and comprehension is key.
Example:
- Essay: 250 words → 25 minutes
- Precis: 160–170 words → 20 minutes
- Comprehension: 3–4 questions → 15 minutes
This structure signals to the evaluator that you managed time effectively.
7. Presentation and Formatting
A well-structured answer with paragraph breaks, sub-points, and neat flow stands out. Examiners are reading hundreds of scripts; a visually clean answer earns goodwill.
- Begin essays with a short introductory paragraph.
- Use short paragraphs of 3–4 lines.
- Where possible, use numbered points or bulleting for clarity.
8. Balanced Perspective in Arguments
One-sided answers reduce credibility. Examiners appreciate when you recognize both pros and cons and then suggest a way forward.
- Essay Example – Demographic Dividend:
- Pros: Large youth population, innovation, labor force advantage.
- Cons: Unemployment, skills gap, migration stress.
- Way forward: Education reforms, pension system strengthening, skilling initiatives.
This balance shows maturity in thought process.
9. Examples from Past Exams
Banking and regulatory bodies repeatedly test applied knowledge.
- RBI Grade B 2023 Essay: “Digital Transformation in Financial Services – Opportunities and Risks.”
- Top scorers didn’t just define digital banking—they cited UPI, Aadhaar-enabled services, and global comparisons.
- NABARD Grade A 2022 Precis: A passage on rural credit.
- High scorers focused on financial inclusion, SHGs, and cooperative credit models, not just rewriting lines.
- SEBI Grade A 2021 Comprehension: On globalization.
- Strong answers used keywords like FDI, WTO, trade liberalization instead of generic terms.
Examiners reward candidates who apply theory to real-world examples.
10. Final Examiner’s Checklist
When an evaluator reads your paper, they silently tick the following boxes:
- ✅ Did the candidate follow word limit and structure?
- ✅ Is the answer free from grammatical errors?
- ✅ Does it demonstrate depth of understanding with examples?
- ✅ Is the argument balanced and logical?
- ✅ Is the writing clear, concise, and well-presented?
If you satisfy these five checkpoints, you are already ahead of the competition.
Conclusion
Scoring high in PFRDA Grade A Descriptive English is not about writing the most, but about writing the most effective. By adopting the evaluator’s perspective, you can tailor your essays, precis, and comprehension answers to meet their expectations. Remember: clarity, relevance, balance, and presentation are your winning tools.