Here are last-moment, in-depth Do’s & Don’ts + strategic tips you MUST internalize tonight (the exam is tomorrow) for your IBPS PO 2025 Mains — Descriptive English. Use this as your final “cheat sheet in the mind” — not for heavy rewriting, but as reminders to trigger quality in your writing under pressure.
Exam Context Reminder (to keep things grounded)
- Descriptive test carries 25 marks, to be done in 30 minutes.
- You’ll typically see one essay + one comprehension / short writing (or in some older patterns, letter + essay).
- The evaluation is automated & by system — it checks grammar, spelling, punctuation, word count, relevance. Irrelevant content or drastic exceeding/shortfall of word limit will hurt your score.
So your aim in these 30 minutes: write a coherent, relevant, error-light essay + crisp answers in the comprehension, within the word limits, with clean presentation.
Do’s & Don’ts — Descriptive English (Essay + Comprehension / Short Writing)
Below is a structured list of common pitfalls (Don’ts) and what you must do (Do’s). As you write, let these pointers act as internal checkpoints.
1. Topic & Relevance
Don’ts:
- Don’t drift off topic. Avoid writing general points that aren’t tied to what the prompt asks.
- Don’t overuse generic “fillers” just to increase length (e.g. “in today’s world, in this modern era…” repeatedly).
- Don’t insert unrelated facts or data you aren’t confident about (false or incorrect facts penalize).
Do’s:
- Read the prompt carefully. Underline key terms (e.g., impacts, challenges, measures, benefits).
- In your outline/mental map, decide 2–3 major points (advantages, issues, recommendations) and stick to them.
- Each paragraph must connect back to the central theme. Use linking words (however, moreover, on the other hand) to maintain coherence.
Example Pitfall: If the topic is “Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion”, writing a full paragraph on “global climate change” is irrelevant even if you know something — it’s a distraction.
2. Structure & Flow
Don’ts:
- Don’t jumble points without logical order.
- Don’t write 1 massive paragraph; don’t fragment into too many tiny ones.
- Don’t jump back and forth — avoid disorganized thoughts.
Do’s:
- Stick to the classic structure: Introduction → Body (2–3 paragraphs) → Conclusion.
- In the introduction, define the topic and state your perspective / roadmap (what you will cover).
- Let each body paragraph take one idea (with supporting detail).
- In conclusion, briefly summarize and, if possible, give a forward-looking suggestion or call to action.
- Use transitional phrases to ensure flow: Firstly / Secondly / However / On the other hand / In conclusion.
Example of Flow:
Intro: “Digital payments have transformed how financial services reach the unbanked in India. However, challenges remain…”
Body-1: “Benefits: cost, reach, transparency”
Body-2: “Challenges: infrastructure, literacy, security”
Body-3: “Recommendations: awareness campaigns, strong regulation, public-private partnerships”
Conclusion: summarise and project future steps.
3. Language, Grammar & Vocabulary
Don’ts:
- Avoid overly complex or flowery vocabulary you aren’t comfortable with — misuse causes more harm.
- Don’t make basic grammar errors: subject-verb mismatch, wrong prepositions, incorrect tense shifts, article misuse.
- Don’t use run-on sentences or overly long, convoluted sentences.
- Don’t use slang, abbreviations (e.g., “etc.” too often), or casual “you / we” usage in formal essay.
Do’s:
- Use simple, clear sentences. Precision is better than verbosity.
- Use subject-verb agreement carefully; keep consistent tenses (mostly present or present perfect style).
- Use connectors / cohesive devices (however, moreover, nevertheless, because, therefore) to bind sentences.
- Sprinkle relevant vocabulary (2–3 strong words) but only ones you are confident of: e.g. ubiquitous, impede, catalyze, mitigate, pervasive, resilience.
- Avoid repetition of the same word — use synonyms if confident.
- Use parallel structures: e.g. “improve access, reduce cost, boost trust”.
Quick Grammar Checks in Last 2 Minutes:
- Check every paragraph’s first and last sentence — they often hold your strongest points.
- Watch for articles (“a / an / the”) — many slips come here.
- Check prepositions: depend on (not depend of), in spite of, due to, on account of.
- Check plurals and singulars.
4. Word Limit & Time Management
Don’ts:
- Don’t exceed the word limit by a huge margin (e.g. writing 400 words when 300 is expected). The system penalizes that.
- Don’t leave major parts blank just to “save time.”
- Don’t spend too long on the first paragraph; you’ll starve time for the rest.
Do’s:
- For essay: aim for ~ 250–300 words (or what is specified) — enough to develop but not overstuff.
- Allocate time: e.g. 4–5 min to plan/outline, 18–20 min to write, 2–3 min to revise / proofread.
- For comprehension / short answers: read passage carefully (~1 min), plan answers, write concisely.
- Keep a watch or glance frequently — if you overshoot time, skip details rather than writing sloppy filler.
5. Presentation & Cleanliness
Don’ts:
- Don’t have mixed alignment or spacing issues (since typed, but irregular spacing is visible).
- Don’t forget standard letter formatting if letter is needed (sender address, date, salutation).
- Don’t leave glaring blank spaces or unbalanced paragraphs.
Do’s:
- Ensure left alignment, uniform spacing between paragraphs.
- Use indentation or line breaks to separate paragraphs clearly.
- If it’s a letter: include sender address, date, recipient address (if formal), subject line (formal letter), salutation (“Dear Sir/Madam”), body, closing (“Yours faithfully / Sincerely”), signature line.
- In comprehension answers, number your answers and keep them short and neat.
- Use bullet points (if allowed) only if they look clean and don’t violate format (but more safe is full sentences).
Last-Moment Tips: What to Remind Yourself Tonight & Tomorrow Morning
- Sketch a micro-outline (in mind or quick 2–3 lines) before writing
Even 3 bullet headings will give you control and prevent drift. - Write slowly but steadily
Don’t rush — errors kill marks more than slower pace. Clarity > speed. - One idea per paragraph
Don’t stuff two ideas; you’ll lose coherence. - Use concrete examples
In your essay, illustrate points with real, recent examples (banking scheme, digital wallet adoption, rural case, etc.). But only ones you are sure of. - Avoid extreme / biased statements
Use moderate expressions — “to a large extent,” “may pose challenges,” “on balance.” - Review last 2 minutes
Use them to scan for glaring spelling / article / verb agreement errors. Fixable ones mostly. - Stay calm & confident
If you blank on one point, proceed to next — don’t stall. You can always combine two points later. - Mind the interface
Since it’s typed, you’ll see word-count tool — glance if available to check you’re not under/over. - Don’t erase entire paragraphs
If you feel one paragraph is weak, adjust in the next or expand subtly, don’t throw it away entirely — time lost is expensive. - Trust your preparation
Last night panic leads to undermining your own ability. Stick to what you’ve practiced (format, structure, language).
Sample Mini Checklist (to review just before writing)
| Check | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| Have I underlined & understood the key demand words in the prompt? | |
| Do I have 2–3 main points and mini-outline in mind? | |
| Is my introduction crisp, leading to body? | |
| Are my paragraphs coherent and connected? | |
| Do I have enough examples / data to support? | |
| Will my conclusion sum up & give a forward line? | |
| Will total length be around 250–300 words? | |
| Will I spend 2 minutes at end to glance for errors? |
Example (Brief Sketch) — For Practice Tonight
Topic: “Impact of Digital Banking on Financial Inclusion in Rural India”
- Intro (approx. 3-4 lines): Define digital banking & state rural inclusion challenge.
- Body 1: Pros — accessibility, lower costs, reach unbanked, ease of transactions.
- Body 2: Challenges — infrastructure gap, digital literacy, trust & security issues, language barrier.
- Body 3: Remedies / Recommendations — government initiatives, training camps, hybrid banking model, incentives, public awareness.
- Conclusion: Summarize and project that with supportive policy & tech, digital banking can drastically reduce rural exclusion.
As you write, always tie each point back to “rural inclusion”, not general digital banking.
Final Word
- In your last sleep tonight, mentally rehearse this: “I will write a clean, coherent 3-para essay, support each idea, not drift, and spend 2 minutes to proofread.”
- Tomorrow morning, don’t overthink. Read the prompt clearly, plan quick, and trust the structure + language discipline you’ve internalized.