RBI Grade B 2025 Descriptive English: Complete Preparation Strategy for Essay, Precis & RC

Introduction

The Descriptive English paper in RBI Grade B Phase 2 plays a pivotal role in determining a candidate’s final selection. With a total of 100 marks and a duration of 90 minutes, this paper evaluates your ability to express, comprehend, and summarize effectively — essential traits for a Grade B Officer at RBI.

This article provides a complete preparation strategy for the three components of the paper:

  • Essay Writing
  • Precis Writing
  • Reading Comprehension (RC)

📝 Paper Pattern at a Glance

SectionMarksWord LimitNumber of Questions
Essay Writing40600 words1 out of 4 topics
Precis Writing30140 words1 passage
Reading Comprehension305 Questions1 passage
Total10090 minutes3 sections

✍️ Essay Writing – 40 Marks

🎯 Objective:

To test your ability to present arguments, structure thoughts, and convey ideas coherently on current or abstract topics.

📌 Preparation Strategy:

  1. Understand the Format:
    • Introduction – Define the topic, background.
    • Body – Break into 2-3 paragraphs covering pros/cons, causes/effects, examples, and sub-points.
    • Conclusion – Sum up with a balanced viewpoint and a forward-looking suggestion.
  2. Types of Essay Topics:
    • Social Issues (e.g., Climate Change, Migration)
    • Economic/Financial Topics (e.g., Inflation Control, Financial Literacy)
    • Abstract (e.g., Ethics in Public Service, Role of Innovation)
    • Technology (e.g., AI in Governance, Cybersecurity)
  3. Content Building:
    • Read The Hindu, LiveMint, PIB, and Yojana regularly.
    • Maintain a topic-wise content notebook for facts, examples, data.
  4. Practice Plan:
    • Write 2 essays weekly.
    • Get them evaluated on grammar, structure, relevance, and clarity.
    • Focus on word economy — saying more with fewer words.
  5. Pro Tip:
    • Always stick to the 600-word limit.
    • Don’t use complex vocabulary unnecessarily.
    • Use linking words like “Moreover,” “However,” “In contrast,” etc.

📝 Precis Writing – 30 Marks

🎯 Objective:

To test your summarization skills by condensing a passage into one-third its length without losing the core meaning.

📌 Preparation Strategy:

  1. Understand the Format:
    • No title required unless specified.
    • Maintain logical flow and original tone of the author.
    • Avoid personal opinion.
  2. Key Steps:
    • Read the full passage carefully.
    • Identify main idea + key supporting arguments.
    • Create a rough draft (in points).
    • Convert into a paragraph of ~140 words.
  3. Common Topics:
    • AI vs Humans in Management
    • Leadership in Public Service
    • Government Reforms
    • Financial Systems and Policies
  4. Practice Plan:
    • Pick editorials or opinion articles and condense them.
    • Stick to precise word count.
    • Avoid repetition, examples, or statistics unless vital.
  5. Pro Tip:
    • Focus on clarity and grammar.
    • Use formal language and third-person narrative.
    • Ensure your precis reads like a complete standalone paragraph.

📖 Reading Comprehension – 30 Marks

🎯 Objective:

To evaluate your ability to understand, interpret, and respond to questions based on a passage.

📌 Preparation Strategy:

  1. Passage Types:
    • Business/Management themes
    • Policy or economic analysis
    • Abstract or philosophical texts
  2. Question Types:
    • Factual
    • Inference-based
    • Vocabulary
    • Tone/purpose of the author
  3. Approach:
    • Skim the passage for the main idea.
    • Read questions before re-reading the passage.
    • For vocab/synonym questions, look at the context.
    • For inference, don’t over-assume. Stay close to the text.
  4. Practice Plan:
    • Attempt RC sets from CAT/GMAT level resources.
    • Focus on time-bound practice (5 Qs in 20 minutes).
    • Improve reading speed and retention.
  5. Pro Tip:
    • Read editorials and essays daily.
    • Improve your reading speed to reduce time pressure.
    • Don’t spend more than 25 minutes on this section in the exam.

⏱️ Time Management Strategy

TaskTime Allocation
Essay Writing35–40 minutes
Precis Writing20–25 minutes
Reading Comprehension20–25 minutes

🕒 Bonus Tips:

  • Attempt RC last if you’re strong in essay/precis.
  • Write a rough outline for essay & precis before typing final version.
  • Don’t exceed word limits. You may get penalized.

📚 Resources to Use

  1. Books:
    • Descriptive English by S.P. Bakshi & Richa Sharma
    • Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
  2. Websites:
    • RBI Website (Speeches, Reports)
    • Bank Whizz (Essay/Precis mocks)
    • Editorials (The Hindu, Indian Express)
  3. Mock Practice:
    • RBI-style timed tests on Bank Whizz
    • Peer reviews to improve answer quality

🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Writing generic essays without structure.
  • Missing the central idea in precis.
  • Copy-pasting exact sentences from passage in RC.
  • Ignoring grammar, punctuation, and paragraphing.
  • Not practicing typing under exam conditions.

🏁 Final Thoughts

The Descriptive English paper in RBI Grade B 2025 is not just about language — it’s about your ability to think critically, write clearly, and analyze effectively. With consistent practice and topic awareness, you can turn this paper into a scoring advantage.

✅ Focus on content quality, structure, and precision.
✅ Practice within time limits.
✅ Stay updated with current events and policy debates.