Quick Snapshot
- Full Marks: 100
- Total Time: 90 minutes
- Sections (3): Essay, Precis, Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Essay: 40 marks, ~600 words
- Precis: 30 marks, one-third length of the original passage
- RC: 30 marks, 6 questions
Paper Pattern & Marking (At a Glance)
| Section | Marks | Target Length / Tasks | Skills Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 40 | ~600 words | Content depth, structure, coherence, evidence/examples, clarity of language |
| Precis | 30 | One-third of source text | Compression, central idea, logical flow, diction, grammar |
| RC | 30 | 6 questions | Comprehension, inference, vocabulary-in-context, data reasoning |
No negative marking in the descriptive paper. Your goal is to maximize quality per minute.
Syllabus Scope (What Exactly to Prepare)
1) Essay (40 Marks, ~600 Words)
Expect contemporary, economy–policy–society topics relevant to RBI’s domain:
- Economy & Policy: inflation targeting, monetary–fiscal coordination, NBFCs, financial inclusion, digital public infrastructure, fintech & CBDC, climate finance, green bonds.
- Banking & Regulation: NPA management, risk & governance, cybersecurity in BFSI, payments innovation, financial literacy, priority sector lending.
- Development & Society: MSMEs, skilling & employability, urbanization, agritech, cooperative reforms, women’s participation in the workforce.
- Technology & Ethics: AI in finance, data privacy, algorithmic bias, regtech/suptech, ESG vs growth trade-offs.
Skill focus: clear stance, policy awareness, current examples/data, balanced analysis, and a tight 5-part structure (intro → 2–3 body pillars → counter/balance → conclusion with actionable way-forward).
2) Precis (30 Marks, One-Third Rule)
A dense policy/finance/social passage to condense into exactly one-third length while preserving core thesis + major supports.
Skill focus: identifying central idea, removing redundancy, merging related points, retaining logical order, and paraphrasing without distortion.
3) Reading Comprehension (30 Marks, 6 Questions)
Passages around finance/economics/governance/technology or social policy.
Question types: main idea, tone/attitude, inference, fact check, vocabulary-in-context, logical conclusion, small data/calculation.
Micro-Marking Rubric (How Examiners Reward Marks)
Essay (40):
- Content & Relevance (12): topic coverage, policy depth, currency of examples.
- Organization & Coherence (10): logical flow, paragraphing, transitions, a clear thesis.
- Argumentation & Evidence (8): balance, counter-view acknowledgment, data references.
- Language & Style (6): precise vocabulary, formal tone, readability, sentence variety.
- Grammar & Mechanics (4): spelling, punctuation, agreement, tense consistency.
Precis (30):
- Fidelity to Central Idea (10): no distortion, all vital points retained.
- Compression & Structure (8): one-third length, logical order, cohesion.
- Paraphrasing Skill (6): own words without losing nuance.
- Language & Clarity (4): concise, formal, fluent.
- Grammar & Mechanics (2).
RC (30, 6 Q): ~5 marks per question distributed across accuracy, inference, and reasoning quality.
Ideal 90-Minute Time Plan (With Buffers)
- Minutes 0–3: Quick scan of all sections → decide essay topic instantly.
- Essay (Minutes 3–52):
- 3–8: Brainstorm & outline (thesis + 3–4 pillars + counterpoint + way-forward).
- 8–47: Draft (~600 words).
- 47–52: Micro-edit (hooks, transitions, trimming fluff).
- Precis (Minutes 52–72):
- 52–58: Read & mark key ideas; count source words.
- 58–68: Draft to one-third length.
- 68–72: Tighten sentences; check length & coherence.
- RC (Minutes 72–89):
- 72–75: Skim passage strategically (topic sentences, connectors).
- 75–89: Solve 6 questions (bookmark the toughest; return in last minute).
- Final Buffer (Minute 89–90): Quick global check (typos, counts, headings).
Why this works: Essay is the highest stake (40), needs planning + polish. Precis needs calm arithmetic and sharp pruning. RC benefits from fresh eyes at the end.
Essay: 7-Step Topper Method (for ~600 Words)
- Decode Prompt: Underline command words (analyse, evaluate, discuss), scope (India/global), and time frame (short-run/long-run).
- Take a Clear Stance: One-line thesis that answers the topic crisply.
- Blueprint (5-part):
- Hooked Intro (context + thesis)
- Body-1: Pillar A (e.g., problem framing with quick data)
- Body-2: Pillar B (structural causes/policy mechanisms)
- Body-3: Pillar C (solutions/roadmap with examples)
- Counter-Balance: Address risks/implementation challenges
- Conclusion: Actionable 3–5 bullets (what–who–how–by when)
- Use RBI-relevant Vocabulary: inflation wedge, credit deepening, transmission, macro-prudential, UPI rails, data governance, ESG, CBDC pilots.
- Ground With Examples: UPI, AA framework, Jan Dhan, ONDC, GIFT-IFSC, PMFME/MSME schemes, SHG models, recent policy reports.
- Connectors & Flow: moreover, however, consequently, in the near term, structurally. Avoid bullet sprawl; keep paragraph unity.
- Micro-Edit: remove repetition, fix subject–verb agreement, keep tone formal, ensure the conclusion actually recommends.
Fast Outline Template (you can reuse in the exam):
- Intro (3–4 lines): Context → thesis.
- Body-1 (6–8 lines): Define the core issue; add one crisp statistic/example.
- Body-2 (6–8 lines): Deepen analysis; stakeholder lens (households/MSMEs/banks/regulators).
- Body-3 (6–8 lines): Solutions/roadmap with sequencing (immediate vs structural).
- Counter-view (3–4 lines): Acknowledge risk/constraints; propose guardrails.
- Conclusion (4–5 lines): 3–5 actionable steps (who does what, with which tool).
Quality Checks Before You Move On:
- Is the thesis unmistakably clear in para-1?
- Do body paragraphs start with a topic sentence?
- Are examples recent and relevant to RBI’s mandate?
- Does the conclusion offer implementable steps?
Precis: Exact One-Third Without Losing the Soul
Workflow
- Read for Gist (2–3 min): Mark thesis, major supports, and logical connectors (however, therefore).
- Word Count: Suppose the source is 450 words → target 150 words. Write the target number in the margin to stay honest.
- Skeleton Map: Thesis (1 line) → Support-1 → Support-2 → Support-3 → Closure (often implication/policy ask).
- Draft in Your Own Words: Replace phrases with compact equivalents; merge related ideas; ditch examples unless they’re essential.
- Polish: Check count again; remove decorative adjectives; keep tense consistent; preserve meaning.
Do
- Preserve order of ideas unless re-ordering improves clarity.
- Use neutral, formal tone.
- Hit the one-third mark with minimal deviation.
Don’t
- Add personal opinions/assumptions.
- Quote sentences verbatim.
- Miss the author’s central claim or soften a strong stance without reason.
Mini Checklist (1 minute):
- Central idea intact?
- All core supports present?
- Exactly one-third (or as close as possible)?
- No distortions, no new info, no examples that crowd space?
RC: From Skim to Accurate Answers (6 Questions)
Smart Skim (60–90 seconds):
- Read first & last paragraph + topic sentence of each para.
- Circle discourse markers: however, consequently, for instance, despite—these signal turns in logic.
Answering Strategy:
- Main Idea: Ask, “If I had to title this passage?”
- Tone/Attitude: Neutral/critical/optimistic? Look for evaluative verbs/adjectives.
- Inference: Combine two stated facts → what must be true. Avoid overreach.
- Vocabulary-in-Context: Replace the word with your own synonym that fits the sentence.
- Data/Logic: Write tiny scratch steps. Don’t do it in your head under time pressure.
- Elimination: For MCQs, strike options that are extreme (“always/never”) unless the text uses absolute language.
Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Reading the whole passage line-by-line before seeing questions (time sink).
- Using outside knowledge to override the author’s logic.
- Ignoring qualifiers (may, could, tends to).
4-Week Power Plan (Daily 60–90 Minutes)
Week 1 — Foundations
- Essay: 3 topics → outlines only (10–12 min each) + 1 full 600-word draft.
- Precis: 5 short drills; practice exact one-third.
- RC: 4 passages; track accuracy by question type.
Week 2 — Structure & Speed
- Essay: 2 full essays; peer/self review with rubric (content/structure/language).
- Precis: 5 drills with strict timing (12–15 min each).
- RC: 6 passages; maintain a log of wrong inferences.
Week 3 — Exam Simulations
- Two full 90-min mocks (Essay+Precis+RC).
- Build a personal error sheet: grammar slips, typical RC traps, overlong intros.
Week 4 — Polish & Predictables
- Essay: 6 predicted policy themes; craft intros + conclusions only (speed crafting).
- Precis: 4 drills with tricky argumentative passages.
- RC: 6 passages focusing on inference/tone.
- 1 Final full mock; adjust minute-wise plan if any section slips.
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
- Vague Essay Intros: Fix with a one-line thesis and a specific context cue.
- Data Dumping: Use one stat per pillar; interpret it (“this implies…”).
- Over-length Precis: Draft 5–10% short first; then add a clarifying phrase if needed.
- RC Overthinking: If two options look close, choose the one directly supported by the text; avoid imaginative leaps.
- Editing Neglect: Reserve 5 minutes to iron out typos and dangling sentences.
Scoring Uplifts in 10 Minutes a Day
- One Sentence a Day: Rewrite a long newspaper sentence into a tighter version → strengthens precis diction.
- Two Connectors: Practice using exactly two logical connectors in a mini-paragraph (however, therefore) → boosts coherence.
- One Policy Snapshot: 5 bullet points from a current policy theme → ready-to-deploy examples in essays.
Exam-Day Checklist
- Essay: Pick the topic you can structure best, not the one that merely feels trendy. Write the thesis first; keep paragraphs balanced.
- Precis: Count source words; write target count; keep to one-third.
- RC: Skim first; answer factual Qs quickly; mark the hardest and return at the end.
- Presentation: Clear paragraphing, legible handwriting/clean formatting, consistent tense.
- Time Control: Follow the 50-20-18 (+2 buffer) discipline.
Ready-to-Use Templates (Copy into Your Notes)
Essay Skeleton (600 words)
- Intro (60–80 words): Context + thesis
- Body-1 (120–140): Define core problem + 1 stat/example
- Body-2 (120–140): Mechanisms/causes/regulatory view
- Body-3 (120–140): Solutions/roadmap (immediate vs structural)
- Counter-Balance (40–60): Risks/constraints & mitigation
- Conclusion (60–80): 3–5 actionable steps (who/what/how/when)
Precis Steps
- Read → mark thesis + supports
- Count source words → target = 1/3
- Draft: thesis → S1 → S2 → S3 → closure
- Paraphrase → compress → polish → recount
RC Quick Flow
- Skim passage → attempt direct Qs → inference → tone/vocab → comeback round for the toughest one.
Final Word
RBI Grade B 2025 Descriptive English rewards clarity, structure, and relevance. Master the one-third rule in Precis, craft policy-aware essays with balanced analysis and actionable conclusions, and use a question-first RC approach. With a disciplined 90-minute plan and weekly mocks, a 75–85+ score is absolutely within reach.