Introduction
The IFSCA Grade A 2024 Descriptive Paper is a golden opportunity for aspirants to showcase their writing skills, comprehension ability, and clarity of thought. However, even well-prepared candidates often fall short due to avoidable errors.
With just 60 minutes to attempt three sections—Essay, Precis, and Comprehension—the margin for error is slim. A few overlooked mistakes can drastically lower your score, even if your knowledge and English skills are good.
In this post, Bank Whizz lists the 10 most common mistakes aspirants make in the descriptive paper and offers expert solutions so you can avoid them on exam day.
1. Exceeding the Word Limit
Why it hurts:
Going beyond the specified word limit in essay or precis writing shows poor planning and lack of control over content. Examiners are instructed to penalize excessive writing.
Fix it:
- Essay: Stay within 200–220 words
- Precis: Keep it at 1/3rd of the original passage (~170 words)
- Comprehension: Limit each answer to 3–5 lines
2. Copying Sentences from the Passage
Why it hurts:
This is common in precis and comprehension. Copy-pasting shows you haven’t understood or processed the material—it reduces marks for originality and expression.
Fix it:
- Paraphrase in your own words
- Avoid lifting phrases or full sentences
- Use synonyms and restructure information
3. Not Giving a Title in Precis Writing
Why it hurts:
A missing or vague title can cost you 2–3 marks directly. It reflects poor comprehension of the passage’s central idea.
Fix it:
- Keep the title 5–8 words long
- Make it specific and relevant (not generic)
- Don’t make it poetic—keep it formal
4. Writing Informally or Using Slang
Why it hurts:
This is a professional exam for a regulatory body. Informal phrases like “a lot,” “stuff,” or “nowadays” reduce the tone and professionalism of your writing.
Fix it:
- Use formal English
- Prefer words like “significant,” “important,” “therefore,” “however”
- Avoid contractions (use “cannot” instead of “can’t”)
5. Weak Structure in Essay Writing
Why it hurts:
Essays that lack a clear introduction, body, and conclusion feel disorganized and hard to follow. Even good points lose their impact.
Fix it:
- Follow the 3-part format:
- Intro (30–40 words) – Define the topic and set the tone
- Body (120 words) – 2–3 points with examples or facts
- Conclusion (30–40 words) – Summary + future outlook
6. Spending Too Much Time on One Section
Why it hurts:
Many candidates over-invest in the essay or precis and run out of time for the last section—often comprehension. This results in incomplete answers and low overall marks.
Fix it:
- Stick to the 20-20-20 rule
- Allocate 20 minutes per section
- Use a watch or on-screen timer to stay alert
7. Ignoring Grammar and Sentence Construction
Why it hurts:
Even with good ideas, poor grammar can make your writing hard to understand. This includes incorrect tenses, punctuation, or sentence fragments.
Fix it:
- Keep sentences short and clear
- Revise your grammar basics (subject-verb agreement, articles, punctuation)
- Leave 2–3 minutes at the end for proofreading
8. Including Personal Opinions in Precis or RC
Why it hurts:
Precis and comprehension require objective summarization, not your views. Adding opinions shows you misunderstood the task.
Fix it:
- Stick to the author’s tone
- Focus on what is written, not what you think
- Avoid phrases like “In my opinion” or “I believe”
9. Not Practicing Typing (for Online Paper)
Why it hurts:
The descriptive paper is computer-based. Many aspirants are not used to typing long-form answers, leading to slow performance and unfinished papers.
Fix it:
- Practice typing 270-word essays and precis regularly
- Improve speed and accuracy on basic tools (Google Docs, Word)
- Familiarize yourself with online test interfaces
10. Ignoring Mock Tests and Evaluations
Why it hurts:
Without feedback, you may keep repeating the same mistakes unknowingly. Mocks help identify your weak areas and improve timing.
Fix it:
- Attempt full-length descriptive mocks
- Get them evaluated by experts (Bank Whizz offers personalized feedback)
- Compare model answers to yours to find improvement areas
Bonus: Presentation Matters Too
- Use paragraphs (don’t write one big chunk)
- Maintain line spacing if the system allows
- Avoid unnecessary CAPS or symbols
- Readability can affect impression and marks
Quick Checklist Before Submission
| Task | Done? |
|---|---|
| Word limits followed | ✅ |
| Grammar checked | ✅ |
| All three sections attempted | ✅ |
| Title in precis included | ✅ |
| All comprehension answers given | ✅ |
| Essay has intro-body-conclusion | ✅ |
Conclusion
Scoring well in the IFSCA Descriptive Paper is not just about writing well—it’s about writing smart. These common mistakes can be easily avoided with awareness, practice, and discipline.
Use this post as a final checklist before every mock and the actual exam. The difference between an average score and a top score often lies in the small things—word count, structure, tone, and grammar.
Join Bank Whizz’s Descriptive English Course for IFSCA Grade A 2024 to get topic-wise mocks, feedback, and score improvement guidance.