IBPS PO 2025 Descriptive English
Typing Speed, Time Management & Practice Hacks
Descriptive English in IBPS PO 2025 tests not just what you write, but how fast and accurately you can type under pressure. Below is a guide to help you ace it — focusing on typing speed, managing the 30 minutes well, and powerful practice hacks.
1. Typing Speed: What’s Good Enough?
- The exam is computer-based: everything is typed, no pen and paper.
- Aim first for accuracy — minimize errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation.
- Once your accuracy is solid, push your speed upward.
- A comfortable target is 35 words per minute (WPM). If you can reach 40–50 WPM with high accuracy, you’ll have extra buffer for thinking and edits.
- Always favor accuracy + clarity over blind speed.
2. Managing the 30 Minutes: Smart Time Division
You have exactly 30 minutes in total for the essay and comprehension tasks. Use time wisely:
| Segment | Suggested Time | Purpose / Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Planning / Outline | 2–3 minutes | Jot structure: intro, key points, conclusion. For comprehension, underline key sentences. |
| Writing / Typing | 22–24 minutes | Focus on composing the essay and answering comprehension without long pauses. |
| Revision / Proofreading | 2–3 minutes | Look for spelling, grammar, punctuation errors. Confirm that you have not exceeded word limits. |
Suggested order:
You may choose to write the essay first, then the comprehension, or vice versa — whichever feels more natural in your practice. The key is consistency.
Don’t dwell too long on perfecting one sentence; move ahead and return in revision time.
3. Practice Hacks to Boost Speed & Quality
To improve over weeks, apply these hacks regularly:
- Master touch typing
Use all ten fingers; don’t look at the keys. Daily drills help build muscle memory. - Use keyboard shortcuts
Commands like Ctrl + A, C, V, Z help you edit faster. - Simulate real exam conditions
In practice sessions, combine essay + comprehension and time yourself for 30 minutes. Use a plain text editor or environment similar to the exam interface. - Maintain a template bank
- Pre-decide a few essay structures (e.g. problem → causes → solutions)
- Memorize transition words and standard intros & conclusions
- For comprehension tasks, have a mental pattern: main idea, tone, role of author’s claims, summary
- Dictation and dual tasks
Read a short passage aloud and type it simultaneously. This trains coordination between reading and writing under time pressure. - Micro drills daily
- 5 minutes: type a news editorial
- 10 minutes: practice vocabulary, idioms often used in finance, economy, governance
- Weekly: full 30-minute mock tests, then self-review
- Maintain an error log
Keep a notebook of recurring mistakes — grammar slips, spelling errors, awkward phrasing. In each practice, focus on eliminating those. - Avoid overediting during writing
Don’t stop every few words to fix a typo. Continue writing, and fix errors during your final proofreading window.
4. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
- Getting stuck trying to craft the “perfect” sentence in the first draft
- Ignoring the format or headings required
- Using fancy words you’re unfamiliar with (causes awkward errors)
- Skipping the proofreading stage altogether
- Practicing on mobile phones or on touchscreen — typing on a keyboard builds relevant skill