IBPS PO 2025 Descriptive English – Complete Syllabus & Exam Pattern Explained
The Descriptive English section in IBPS PO 2025 Mains is more important than ever. It tests your ability to think, write, and express ideas clearly under time constraints. Understanding the syllabus and exam format deeply gives you a major advantage in preparation and execution.
Below is a comprehensive guide covering:
- The official exam pattern
- The syllabus / content scope
- Key changes (2025 vs older years)
- How evaluation works
- Strategy tips aligned with the pattern
Use this as a reference blueprint when designing your Bank Whizz content or student roadmap.
1. Official Exam Pattern: Mains Descriptive English
Here is how the Descriptive English section is structured in IBPS PO 2025 (Mains) according to recent credible sources:
| Component | Number of Tasks | Marks | Time | Medium / Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive English (Mains) | 2 (Essay + Comprehension) | 25 marks | 30 minutes | English, typed on computer interface |
- Essay is generally allotted 15 marks and Comprehension the remaining 10 marks.
- The old “Letter writing + Essay” format has been revised, with Letter writing removed and replaced by comprehension.
- The descriptive test is conducted in typing mode as part of the Mains exam, immediately after or along with the objective tests.
Thus, in your planning, you must treat both tasks (essay + comprehension) as inseparable parts of one 30-minute block.
2. Syllabus / Content Scope: What You Must Prepare
Unlike objective subjects, “syllabus” here is more about themes, skills, and task types you should master. Below is a mapped syllabus for the Descriptive English:
A. Essay (Writing)
You should be ready to write on a variety of contemporary, policy, social, technological, or economic issues. Common themes include:
- Banking, financial reforms, financial inclusion
- Technology in society: AI, digital banking, cybersecurity, data privacy
- Economy: inflation, fiscal policy, government schemes, globalization
- Environment & sustainability, climate change
- Social issues: gender equality, education, health, rural development
- Governance & ethics, public policy, accountability
- Current affairs: major events, global trends, policy changes
In writing the essay, you must demonstrate:
- Clear thesis / stance
- Well-developed arguments / reasons / examples
- Balanced coverage (if needed, pros & cons)
- Actionable solutions / way forward
- Coherent introduction / body / conclusion
Word limit is often expected to be around 250–300 words.
B. Comprehension
The comprehension task assesses your ability to:
- Grasp the central idea or theme of a passage
- Infer meaning / read between the lines
- Understand the author’s tone, intent, and stance
- Explain specific statements / sentences
- Summarise or paraphrase parts of the passage
Important rules for comprehension:
- Answer in your own words (no direct copying or lifting)
- Be concise and precise — usually 30–40 words per question, unless asked otherwise
- Maintain coherence and logical flow even in short answers
The passage is likely drawn from the same broad themes as essay (economy, tech, governance, social issues, environment).
3. Key Changes in 2025 (vs Older Years)
- Letter writing removed: The descriptive section no longer includes a letter task; instead, comprehension is used.
- The marks split is now clearly: essay = 15, comprehension = 10 (subject to confirmation by the official notification)
- Evaluation leans heavily on automated checking systems (grammar, word count, relevance) in many preparations.
- The descriptive test is fully online / typed, making typing fluency and editing skills essential.
Because of these changes, candidates must adjust older strategies (letter templates, too heavy formal style) and focus more on speed, paraphrasing, and clarity.
4. How the Descriptive Section Is Evaluated
Understanding the evaluation criteria helps you align your writing for maximum marks:
- Relevance & Task Completion
Your essay and comprehension answers must directly address the prompt/question. Going off-track or adding irrelevant content can cost you heavily. - Structure & Coherence
Clean organization (intro/body/conclusion), proper paragraphing, and logical flow are valued. - Language & Grammar
Grammar accuracy, correct punctuation, spelling, sentence formation, and use of vocabulary you control. - Adherence to Word Limit / Conciseness
Overshooting or writing too short can both be penalized. The system or evaluator may truncate or penalize excess. - Paraphrasing in Comprehension
Answers should be in your own words. Direct copying is discouraged or disallowed. Clarity and brevity matter. - Editing / Presentation
Since it’s online typing, presentation (no glaring typos, clean delivery, no run-on sentences) is crucial.
Because of these, your planning, writing, and proofreading must each be sharp.
5. Strategy Tips Aligned with Syllabus & Pattern
Here are actionable strategies tailored to the 2025 pattern:
- Practice writing essay + comprehension together in one 30-minute slot — don’t treat them separately in mocks.
- Build a topic bank across the syllabus themes (economy, tech, environment, governance). Rotate topics in your practice.
- For comprehension, practice paraphrase drills and summary writing often, from editorials, journals, opinion pieces.
- Improve typing speed + accuracy (target 35–45 words per minute) using a keyboard. Familiarity with editing shortcuts (copy, cut, paste, undo) helps.
- Always start with a quick outline (1–2 minutes) for the essay: thesis, major points, conclusion. Also skim the comprehension passage to identify core parts early.
- Allocate time smartly: e.g. ~15–17 minutes for essay, ~10–12 minutes for comprehension, ~1–2 minutes for final proofreading.
- Maintain an error log of grammar, awkward phrasing, off-topic sentences, and systematically eliminate them.
- Get feedback — peer review or mentor review — especially to catch structural, language, or relevance issues you may not see yourself.
- In mocks, simulate true typing environment (on a computer), and within the same time block.