The IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) exam is evolving — and one of the most significant updates in 2025 is the change in the Descriptive Paper (the English writing section in Mains). For aspirants, staying abreast of these changes is critical, since even if your objective scores are high, a weak descriptive score can pull down your final ranking. In this post, we’ll analyze what has changed, why it matters, and how you should adapt your preparation strategy.
What Was the Old Pattern — A Quick Recap
Before diving into the changes, it helps to recall how the descriptive section was structured in previous years:
- The descriptive section in IBPS PO Mains used to consist of two tasks:
- Essay
- Letter / Application / Formal Letter / Complaint / etc.
- Essay
- The total marks for descriptive: 25 marks
- Time allotted: 30 minutes
- The responses were typed (computer-based exam)
- The evaluation considered content, language, structure, coherence, relevance, grammar, spelling, and adherence to word limit.
So far, many aspirants had been preparing by practising essays and formal letters (complaints, requests, suggestions, etc.). But things have changed in 2025.
What’s New in 2025 — The Key Changes
Here are the major modifications in the IBPS PO descriptive section in 2025. (These are based on the latest reports and exam-pattern announcements.)
| Change | Old (Pre-2025) | New (2025) | Impact / What You Must Adjust |
| Type of second task | Letter / formal correspondence | Comprehension (reading passage + questions) | The letter-writing part has been removed. You will now need to do a comprehension-based writing — reading a passage and answering questions (short answers). This shifts the skill demand: more focus on reading comprehension, summarising, and expressing in your own words. |
| Marks distribution | Typically (approx) 15 for Essay + 10 for Letter (or similar) | Essay – 15 marks + Comprehension – 10 marks | The weightage is similar, but with different task types. Ensure you can deliver in both. |
| Word limit / length | Essay often ~ 200–250 / 250–300 words; Letter approx shorter | Still around 250–300 words for essay; comprehension answers about 30–40 words for each question (as short-answer responses) | |
| Time allotted | 30 minutes for both tasks together | 30 minutes total — you must manage time between the essay and comprehension tasks wisely | |
| Evaluation method | Was partially human / assisted scoring | Fully automated (computer-based) evaluation — machines check for grammar, coherence, relevance, structure, word count, etc. Irrelevant content or deviation from the theme will be penalised, even if the grammar is perfect. |
Other downstream changes in the overall exam pattern also affect how much emphasis you should place on the descriptive section. For instance:
- The total number of objective questions in Mains has been reduced (to 145) and the total marks remain 200 (objective) + 25 (descriptive) = 225 marks.
- The marks in descriptive are fully added to your mains score (i.e., not just qualifying) — so your descriptive performance directly influences final cutoffs.
Thus, the descriptive paper has become more crucial than before in separating good performers from average ones.
Why IBPS Made This Change — Possible Reasons
Understanding why the shift happened helps you adjust your preparation mindset.
- Better assessment of comprehension & communication
A comprehension task tests how well a candidate can read, digest, and express ideas — an essential skill for banking officers who often interpret reports, circulars, memos, etc. - Less predictability / rote preparation
Many students had template-based letters memorised. With comprehension, one cannot purely rely on templates — you must read carefully and respond freshly. - Objective evaluation, reduced subjectivity
Automated evaluation reduces examiner bias. The machine can objectively check coherence, key-idea coverage, language metrics, etc. - Aligning with modern job expectations
Bank POs nowadays must interpret reports, policies, compliance documents, and circulars. Comprehension + essay more closely simulate these real tasks.
How the Descriptive Section Will Be Evaluated in 2025
With the shift to comprehension + essay, here’s how you should expect evaluation:
- Essay (15 marks)
- Relevance to topic
- Structure (introduction, body, conclusion)
- Coherence and flow
- Grammar, punctuation, spelling
- Vocabulary (while readable)
- Word limit adherence
- Relevance to topic
- Comprehension (10 marks)
- Understanding of passage
- Accurate, concise answers to questions
- Avoid verbatim copying — answers should be in your own words
- Clarity, coherence, grammar, correctness
- Understanding of passage
Since evaluation is automated, any deviation (e.g. going off-topic in essay, copying sentences in comprehension, exceeding or falling short of word counts) will attract penalties.
What You Must Do Differently — Preparation Strategy
Given these changes, here’s a refined plan to dominate the descriptive section:
1. Practice comprehension intensively
- Read editorials, opinion pieces, policy reports (economics, banking, social issues).
- After reading a passage, pose your own 3–4 questions and answer them.
- Time yourself: say a 300-word passage + 5 questions in 10–12 minutes.
2. Keep essay practice alive — but fresh topics
- Focus essays on banking, economy, social issues, technology, governance, environment.
- Avoid old topics like “My ambition” or “My school life” — IBPS will stick to contemporary issues.
- Maintain a repository of bullet ideas / current data / examples / statistics you can deploy quickly.
- Structure your essay clearly: introduction (2–3 lines), body (3–4 paragraphs), conclusion (2–3 lines).
3. Time management mock drills
- Split 30 minutes: e.g. 16–18 minutes for essay + 12–14 minutes for comprehension.
- Don’t spend too long on comprehension — leave time for essay refinement.
- Use mock tests under exam conditions (no spell-check, no corrections).
4. Self-review and peer review
- After writing, score yourself: check if you have addressed all parts of the question, whether flow is consistent, grammar errors, etc.
- Exchange scripts with peers and critique each other (especially the comprehension responses — check for conciseness and relevance).
- Use a checklist: Did I stay on topic? Did I answer all parts? Did I use linking words? Is my grammar sound?
5. Focus on reading speed, vocabulary, clarity
- Better reading speed helps in comprehension under time pressure.
- Vocabulary should help clarity, not complicate it — avoid showy words if unsure; simple, correct English is safer.
- Practice summarising paragraphs in one or two lines — that helps compression and clarity.
6. Mock Tests & Past Papers (new format)
- Use mock tests that reflect the new descriptive pattern (essay + comprehension).
- Analyze your performance: where did you lose marks — content, deviation, grammar, irrelevant sentences, etc.
- Track improvement over time: aim to reach 12/15 in essay + 7/10 in comprehension (total ~19–22 as a target for good ranking).
Sample Format Flow (Hypothetical)
Here’s how you might allocate time and structure your attempt:
| Task | Time Allocation | What to Do |
| Read the comprehension passage | 2 minutes | Skim for theme, note key points |
| Read questions | 1 minute | Mark what to look for |
| Answer comprehension | 7–8 minutes | Write short answers in 30–40 words each |
| Brainstorm essay | 1 minute | Note down 3–4 key points / examples |
| Write essay | 13–14 minutes | Build intro, body, conclusion |
| Review / polish | 2–3 minutes | Check grammar, coherence, word limit |
This is just a guideline — you should adjust as per your comfort and speed.
Why These Changes Matter — The Big Picture
- Greater importance of the descriptive section: Since it contributes directly to your mains score, it’s no longer a “qualifying add-on.”
- Balanced skill testing: The new pattern ensures that candidates are not just good at memorised letter writing, but also at reading, interpreting, and expressing.
- Competitive differentiation: As many aspirants may lag in the comprehension skill, excelling here can give you an edge.
- Fit for real job tasks: Bank POs often read, interpret, and act on memos, reports, circulars — the exam now mirrors those expectations.
Final Words: What You Must Focus On Today
- Stop relying on old letter templates — shift to comprehension + essay combinations.
- Read and summarise daily — pick editorials, reports, policy briefs, etc.
- Write timed essays on current issues — economy, fiscal policy, digital banking, environmental finance, inclusive growth, financial reforms.
- Take mock tests in new format — track where you lose marks (relevance, deviation, grammar).
- Use peer feedback — seeing someone else’s work helps you spot your blind spots.
If you prepare with the new pattern in mind, and practise under exam-conditions, you’ll be in a strong position to score well in the descriptive section and boost your overall mains ranking.