Descriptive English – IBPS PO
The 2025 edition of IBPS PO brings a significant shift in the Descriptive English section of the Mains exam. What was earlier an essay + letter format is now replaced by essay + comprehension. This change raises the bar on language skills, comprehension ability, clarity of thought, and speed under pressure.
This roadmap will guide your preparation step-by-step — from understanding the format and evaluation criteria to detailed strategies, resources, and a timed plan.
1. Latest Updates & Exam Pattern (2025)
Before you dive into strategy, you must be crystal clear on what exactly you’ll face in the descriptive section. Many aspirants lose marks simply because they prepare for the “old” format.
What’s New / Changed
- The Descriptive English in IBPS PO Mains (2025) will have two tasks: Essay + Comprehension (instead of Essay + Letter).
- Total marks allotted = 25 marks.
- Time limit = 30 minutes (for both essay + comprehension combined).
- Mode = typing / computer interface (i.e. you’ll type your answers, not hand-write).
- Weightage: Essay generally ~15 marks, Comprehension ~10 marks.
In the revised Mains pattern, the objective section is 160 minutes (145 MCQs, 200 marks), and Descriptive adds another 30 minutes for 25 marks.
So, your total Mains time = 190 minutes (160 + 30).
Because this section carries meaningful weight, a poor performance here can negatively affect your overall rank — even if your objective score is strong.
2. What to Prepare — Syllabus & Task Types
Unlike objective papers, descriptive “syllabus” is not topic lists but skills + themes + formats. But you can map out what to practice. Based on recent analyses, here’s what you must master.
2.1 Essay Writing — Themes & Skill Areas
Be prepared to write essays on:
- Banking / finance / reforms / financial inclusion
- Technology in society: AI, digital banking, cybersecurity, fintech
- Economic challenges: inflation, fiscal policy, unemployment, globalization
- Governance, ethics, public policy
- Social issues: education, gender equity, health, rural development
- Environment, climate change, sustainability
- Current affairs, global trends, India’s role, etc.
In essay writing, you need to demonstrate:
- Clear thesis / stance
- Balanced arguments — pros, cons, possible trade-offs
- Illustrative examples / data / case studies
- Logical structure: introduction, body (2–3 paragraphs), conclusion
- Clarity, fluency, coherence, correct grammar
- A practical “way forward” or recommendation (if the topic asks for it)
Word count: Typically ~250–300 words (you should aim ~250) in a 30-minute format.
2.2 Comprehension
The comprehension will generally involve:
- A passage (economics / policy / social / banking / technology)
- One or more questions asking you to interpret, analyze, infer, summarize, comment
- Expected length of answer: ~150 words (or concise responses within a limit)
Skills to focus:
- Reading quickly yet deeply (identifying main idea, tone, structure)
- Highlighting/underlining key points
- Avoiding verbatim copying — using your own words is preferred (paraphrase)
- Addressing exactly what is asked (no extra irrelevant parts)
- Grammar, clarity, sentence structure
3. Evaluation Criteria — What Examiners Look For
To score well, you must know how your responses are evaluated. While the exact rubric is not publicly published, previous trends and expert advice point to:
| Parameter | Weight / Importance | What Examiners Check |
|---|---|---|
| Relevance / Content | High | Whether your ideas are relevant, on-point, focused on the prompt |
| Structure & Organization | High | Logical flow, paragraphing, introduction + body + conclusion |
| Clarity & Coherence | High | Smooth transitions, linked ideas, not abrupt jumps |
| Language Quality | High | Grammar, vocabulary, sentence variety, error-free writing |
| Conciseness / Precision | Medium | Avoid verbosity or fluff; precision in expression |
| Originality / Examples | Medium | Unique examples, fresh perspectives rather than clichés |
| Adherence to word-limit / time | High | Overlong or underlength responses may be penalized |
Hence, even if your idea is excellent, poor grammar, disorganized structure, or redundancy can hurt you.
4. Step-by-Step Roadmap to Prepare (Weeks & Months)
Here is a structured plan. You can stretch or compress it depending on how much time you have before the exam. (Assuming you have ~8–12 weeks.)
Week 1–2: Foundation & Baselines
- Read exemplar essays / high quality opinion articles (The Hindu, Indian Express, Mint)
- Make a vocabulary bank (20–30 new words weekly, with usage)
- Practice reading comprehension daily (editorials, economic / policy, tech)
- Take a diagnostic test: write 1 essay + 1 comprehension in 30 mins and self-evaluate
- Identify your weak areas (grammar, structure, coherence)
Week 3–5: Focused Skill Building
- Grammar drills & sentence correction (tenses, agreement, articles, connectors)
- Linking words / coherence devices (however, moreover, thus, consequently)
- Paragraph writing practice: write just paragraphs (topic sentence + support)
- Short essays (150–180 words) on smaller topics to build speed
- Comprehension practice: varied topics, inferential questions, summarizing
Week 6–8: Mock + Feedback Loop
- Timed full tests (essay + comprehension in 30 mins) — at least 3 per week
- Peer review / mentor feedback: exchange scripts, get correction, learn from mistakes
- Track error log: maintain a file of recurring errors (grammar, usage, structure)
- Simulate exam conditions: no spell-check, strict timer, minimal distractions
Week 9–Final Week: Polishing & Reinforcement
- Rapid-fire micro exercises: vocabulary usage, one-sentence paraphrase, summary writing
- Timed “combo mocks”: with objective tests + descriptive (if possible) to build stamina
- Review model essays: mark their thesis, transitions, supporting points, closers
- Last-minute idea bank: prepare bullet ideas / data points under themes (economy, tech, policy)
- Relaxation & mental preparation: reduce stress, maintain writing stamina
5. Execution Strategy: In the Exam Hall (30-min Plan)
Knowing how to use those 30 minutes effectively is as important as knowing what to write.
Here’s a minute-by-minute split:
| Time Slot | Task | Focus / Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1 min | Read both prompts (essay, comprehension) | Quickly gauge the topics, choose which one is comfortable |
| 1 – 3 min | Outline / sketch your plan | For essay: intro, 3 major points, conclusion. For comprehension: underline passage, note key ideas |
| 3 – 15 min | Write Essay | Balanced paragraphs, clarity, solid examples |
| 15 – 24 min | Write Comprehension answers | Directly address the questions, paraphrase, precise writing |
| 24 – 28 min | Review both tasks | Fix grammatical errors, remove redundancies, check transitions |
| 28 – 30 min | Final polish / ensure closure | Word limit check, confirm that your conclusion is solid |
Some tactical tips:
- Start with the essay (heavier marks) to get your momentum.
- Use short, crisp sentences rather than long, winding ones.
- Use connectors and transition words to maintain flow.
- In comprehension, avoid copying entire sentences; paraphrase.
- If stuck mid-essay, skip and come back — don’t waste time.
- Maintain a “writing speed” of ~60–70 wpm in typing practice.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overwriting or going well beyond word limit
- Poor structuring (no clear intro/conclusion)
- Grammar & punctuation slip-ups
- Irrelevant or repetitive content
- Copying passage verbatim in comprehension
- Underestimating typing / interface latency
- Not practicing under timed conditions
7. Suggested Resources & Tools
- Editorials & Opinion Columns: The Hindu, Indian Express, Mint
- Books & Guides: Essays / writing compendiums, previous descriptive papers
- Mock & Test Platforms: Online typed mock descriptive platforms
- Grammar Websites / Apps: Grammarly (for practice), Cambridge Grammar, Purdue OWL
- Vocabulary Builders: Word lists + usage in sentences
- Peer / Mentor Review: Join study groups, feedback circles
- Past Papers & Sample Essays: Analyze structure, progression, style
8. Sample Timeline (Daily / Weekly)
Here is a sample weekly plan (assuming you have ~10 weeks):
| Day | Morning (1 hr) | Afternoon / Evening (2 hr) | Night / Wind-down (30 min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Read opinion editorial + note vocab | Essay writing practice, grammar drill | Review essay & corrections |
| Tue | Comprehension passage + Qs | Paragraph writing + transitions | Vocabulary review |
| Wed | Grammar focus (articles, tenses, connectors) | Full essay + comprehension test | Self-evaluate / peer swap |
| Thu | Read research / policy article | Timed essay & peer feedback | Micro writing (summary) |
| Fri | Mock descriptive test | Detailed review & error log | Word-usage exercise |
| Sat | Free reading + idea bank refresh | Mock writing + rewriting drafts | Light reading, relax |
| Sun | Rest / light reading | Full mock (objective + descriptive) | Review & plan for next week |
Adjust according to your strength / weakness zones. Always balance writing practice with analysis / review.
9. Measuring Progress & Setting Targets
- Initial benchmark: what score (out of 25) can you manage now?
- Weekly improvement goal: try to gain +2 marks every week via reducing errors
- Final target: aim for 14–16 / 25 in the descriptive section, which gives you buffer
- Maintain an error log to track recurring mistakes
- After each mock, classify errors into language, content, structure, irrelevant content
- Reassess your writing speed: can you comfortably finish both tasks in 25 minutes during mock (leaving 5 for review)?
10. Final Tips Before the Exam
- On exam day, read prompts carefully before starting
- Do mental warm-up writing before the test (write 2–3 lines)
- Don’t panic if you feel slower — go for clarity
- Use linkers well but don’t overdo
- Keep some time (2–3 minutes) at the end for error correction
- Keep calm, trust your practice