In NABARD Development Assistant Mains 2026, Precis Writing is the most underestimated yet most rewarding component of Descriptive English. Carrying 20 marks, it often becomes the difference between an average and a top-tier score.
Many aspirants remain stuck around 10–12 marks, even after repeated practice.
Very few consistently reach 16–18+ marks.
This post explains exactly what separates those two groups, based on past NABARD papers and examiner expectations, and how you can cross that barrier with methodical preparation.
Why Precis Writing Is a Silent Rank-Decider
Let’s start with reality.
- Essay → many aspirants score similarly
- Letter → limited scope of differentiation
- Precis → widest variation in marks
In a 50-mark Descriptive paper, precis alone contributes 40% weightage. Ignoring it or treating it casually is a strategic mistake.
What NABARD Precis Writing Is REALLY Testing
Precis writing in NABARD is not about shortening text mechanically.
Examiners at National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development test whether you can:
- identify the central argument,
- retain the logical spine of the passage,
- remove examples and repetition without distorting meaning,
- write in a neutral, institutional tone,
- maintain strict word discipline.
Language fluency alone does not help here.
The 12-Mark Precis: What It Typically Looks Like
A 12-mark precis usually has:
- correct general idea, but
- weak central argument clarity,
- uneven compression,
- occasional personal tone,
- borderline word-limit control.
Common Issues at This Level
❌ Paraphrasing sentence-by-sentence
❌ Missing the author’s core claim
❌ Retaining too many examples
❌ Informal or opinionated phrases
Such answers are not wrong, but they are not sharp enough.
The 18+ Marks Precis: What Examiners Notice Immediately
High-scoring precis answers have distinct characteristics.
✅ Clear Central Argument
The precis captures what the author is arguing, not just what the passage discusses.
If the central idea is weak, marks collapse—regardless of language quality.
✅ Logical Compression (Not Reduction)
Top answers:
- compress ideas,
- merge related points,
- preserve cause–effect–solution flow.
Low scorers merely shorten sentences.
✅ Ruthless Elimination
18+ scorers remove:
- illustrations,
- examples,
- descriptive fillers,
- rhetorical phrases.
They keep only what moves the argument forward.
✅ Neutral, Institutional Tone
High scorers avoid:
- “we”, “I”, “must”, “should urgently”
- emotional or persuasive language
They use:
- “the passage argues…”
- “it highlights…”
- “it suggests…”
This tone aligns with NABARD’s institutional expectations.
✅ Discipline in Word Limit
Top answers remain comfortably within 150 words (or the specified limit).
Exceeding the word limit—even with good content—invites penalty.
The Real Difference: Thinking Process, Not English Level
Here’s the truth most aspirants miss:
12-mark writers think while writing.
18+ mark writers think before writing.
High scorers spend:
- 2–3 minutes identifying core ideas,
- then write decisively and cleanly.
Low scorers start writing immediately and keep adjusting mid-way—wasting time and clarity.
Step-by-Step Framework to Move from 12 to 18+
Step 1: Extract the Central Idea (Before Writing)
Ask:
- What is the author’s main claim?
- What problem is being analysed?
- What conclusion is implied?
Write this internally in one sentence.
Step 2: Identify 4–5 Core Idea Blocks
Usually:
- context/problem
- cause
- impact
- limitation/challenge
- way forward
Anything outside this is removable.
Step 3: Eliminate Without Mercy
Delete:
- examples,
- statistics used only for illustration,
- repetitive explanations.
If removal does not change the argument, it should be removed.
Step 4: Rewrite in Formal, Neutral Language
Your final precis should read like:
- an institutional summary,
- not a student’s explanation.
Why Repeated Practice Alone Does NOT Improve Scores
Many aspirants practise dozens of precis passages but remain stuck at the same marks.
Why?
Because:
- they don’t get structural feedback,
- they don’t know why marks were cut,
- they repeat the same thinking errors.
Precis improves only with examiner-oriented evaluation, not volume practice.
Bank Whizz Insight: Why Precis Has the Fastest ROI
At Bank Whizz, we’ve consistently observed:
Once aspirants:
- understand central-idea extraction,
- master elimination logic,
- adopt institutional tone,
their precis scores jump rapidly—often within 5–6 evaluated attempts.
Precis writing rewards method, not talent.
Final Takeaway
The gap between 12 marks and 18+ marks in NABARD Precis Writing is not vocabulary, grammar, or intelligence.
It is:
- clarity of central argument,
- discipline of elimination,
- structural thinking under pressure.
If you fix these three, high scores follow naturally.