📝 Introduction
The Comprehension Section in the NICL AO 2025 Descriptive English Paper is worth 10 marks and can be a game-changer if tackled smartly. Many candidates mistakenly believe this part is easy and attempt it casually—resulting in missed marks due to incomplete, vague, or overly lengthy answers.
In this post, Bank Whizz presents a step-by-step guide to mastering comprehension in NICL AO 2025. Learn the question types, answering strategies, and practice methods to consistently score 8–10 marks out of 10 in just 10 minutes.
📋 Comprehension in NICL AO – What to Expect?
Based on the 2024 paper pattern, the comprehension section consists of:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Passage Length | Around 150 words |
| Question Count | 4–5 questions |
| Marks Allotted | 10 marks |
| Topics | Related to insurance, corporates, reforms |
| Time Allotted | Ideally 10 minutes |
🔍 Types of Questions Asked
The questions are designed to test your reading comprehension, inference, vocabulary, and analytical skills.
1. Factual Questions
Direct questions based on information clearly stated in the passage.
❓ Example: What are the benefits of digital insurance as mentioned in the passage?
2. Inferential Questions
You need to deduce answers from implied meanings or logical flow.
❓ Example: What can be inferred about the challenges faced by the insurance sector?
3. Vocabulary/Meaning-Based Questions
Finding the meaning of words/phrases based on context.
❓ Example: What does the term “risk mitigation” mean as used in the passage?
4. Opinion/Theme Questions
Testing your understanding of the central idea or tone.
❓ Example: What is the central idea of the passage?
🧠 Step-by-Step Strategy to Master Comprehension
✅ Step 1: Read the Questions First
Before reading the passage, skim through the questions. This gives you a focus while reading and saves time.
✅ Step 2: Read the Passage Carefully (Only Once)
- Don’t rush through the passage.
- Pay attention to key transitions (e.g., however, therefore, in addition).
- Mentally break the passage into introduction, body, and conclusion.
✅ Step 3: Locate the Answers
- For factual questions, locate the sentence directly.
- For inference, think critically based on hints.
- For meaning-based, reread the phrase in context.
✅ Step 4: Frame Short, Complete Answers
- Answer in 1–2 complete sentences.
- Don’t copy the exact sentence from the passage.
- Be concise but fully address the question.
✅ Step 5: Use Keywords from the Question
This increases readability and shows clarity to the evaluator.
📌 Sample Comprehension Passage & Questions (NICL AO Style)
Passage (Excerpt):
In recent years, the insurance sector in India has witnessed a significant transformation with the integration of digital technologies. From policy issuance to claims settlement, insurers are now leveraging AI and mobile platforms to simplify processes. However, low awareness and digital literacy remain major barriers in rural areas.
Sample Questions:
- What transformation has the Indian insurance sector undergone recently?
- How are insurance companies using AI and mobile platforms?
- What is one major barrier to digital insurance penetration in rural areas?
- What does the word “leveraging” mean in this context?
- Suggest one way to increase digital awareness in rural India.
🧾 Scoring Criteria – What Evaluators Look For
| Parameter | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|
| Accuracy of content | ✅✅✅ |
| Completeness of answer | ✅✅ |
| Clarity & language | ✅✅✅ |
| Use of your own words | ✅✅ |
| No spelling/grammar errors | ✅✅ |
Tip: There is no negative marking, but incomplete or copied answers may fetch only partial marks.
⏰ Time Management for Comprehension
You have only 10 minutes to attempt 4–5 questions.
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Skim questions | 1 minute |
| Read passage | 3 minutes |
| Answer questions | 6 minutes |
Stick to this time plan to avoid rushing through precis or essay.
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Copy-pasting from the passage
- ❌ Writing incomplete or one-word answers
- ❌ Ignoring inference-based questions
- ❌ Exceeding 3–4 sentences per answer
- ❌ Spelling or grammatical mistakes
🎓 Practice Tips from Bank Whizz
- Practice 2 comprehension sets daily from insurance editorials.
- Try reading IRDAI circulars and summarizing them in your own words.
- Focus on passages about schemes like PMFBY, Ayushman Bharat, and Digital India.
- Simulate the exam: 150-word passage + 5 questions in 10 minutes.
🏆 How Bank Whizz Helps You Master Comprehension
- 25+ NICL AO-style comprehension mocks
- Real exam typing interface
- Expert feedback on answer structure and clarity
- Weekly performance reports
- Model answers to learn structure
🔚 Final Thoughts
The Comprehension section in NICL AO 2025 is your chance to earn full marks with accuracy and speed. By mastering reading strategies, answer framing, and time management, you can easily outperform others.
Start today with Bank Whizz’s structured comprehension practice series, crafted by experts who know what NICL AO wants.