The Descriptive English section in the State Bank of India CBO exam is not about creative writing. It is a professional communication test designed to assess how clearly, logically, and formally a future officer can express ideas—under time pressure and on a computer.
This post gives you a complete, exam-ready strategy for Essay and Letter Writing, built strictly around actual SBI expectations and the Bank Whizz philosophy: precision over decoration, structure over storytelling.
Understand the SBI CBO Descriptive Test First (Context Matters)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Total Marks: 50
- Questions:
- 1 Essay
- 1 Letter
- Mode: Computer-based typing
- Evaluation: Aggregate marks only (no sectional cut-off)
👉 This means one weak answer can pull down your total. Balance is non-negotiable.
PART A: Essay Writing Strategy for SBI CBO
1️⃣ What SBI Really Tests in an Essay
SBI does not test:
- Literary flair
- Complex vocabulary
- Philosophical depth
SBI does test:
- Clarity of thought
- Logical organisation
- Relevance to topic
- Language control
Think like an officer explaining an issue, not a student writing an article.
2️⃣ Ideal Essay Structure (Non-Negotiable)
Introduction (20–25%)
- Define the issue simply
- Establish relevance (banking / society / governance)
Body (50–55%)
- 2–3 clear dimensions (economic, social, technological, administrative)
- Balanced points (pros + concerns where applicable)
Conclusion (20–25%)
- Way forward / recommendation
- Optimistic but realistic closing
👉 Avoid examples overload. SBI prefers analysis over anecdotes.
3️⃣ Essay Topic Preparation Strategy
Based on past SBI CBO exams, focus on:
- Technology (AI, digital banking, cybersecurity)
- Social issues (mental health, social media)
- Banking & financial inclusion
- National development themes
Prepare frameworks, not memorised essays.
PART B: Letter Writing Strategy for SBI CBO
1️⃣ Types of Letters Asked
SBI CBO letters usually fall into two buckets:
- Banking Letters
(to Branch Manager, account-related requests) - Administrative / Civic Letters
(to Municipality, Cyber Department, local authorities)
2️⃣ Standard SBI-Preferred Letter Format
- Sender’s Address
- Date
- Receiver’s Designation & Address
- Subject (clear and specific)
- Salutation
- Body (problem → request → expectation)
- Courteous closing
👉 Format errors = direct mark loss, even if language is decent.
3️⃣ Language Tone That Scores
Use:
- Polite
- Formal
- Direct
Avoid:
- Emotional language
- Casual phrases
- Over-politeness or verbosity
Remember: You are writing as a responsible customer or citizen.
PART C: Time & Typing Strategy (Most Ignored, Most Costly)
⏱️ Smart Time Allocation (30 Minutes)
- Essay: 18–20 minutes
- Letter: 10–12 minutes
Do not reverse this.
⌨️ Typing Reality Check
- Typing speed matters, but clarity matters more
- Minor typos are tolerated; structural chaos is not
- Practice typing full-length answers, not paragraphs
Common Mistakes That Kill Scores
- Writing essays like school exams
- Ignoring letter format
- Exceeding time on one question
- Fancy vocabulary with weak logic
- Zero revision before submission
How Bank Whizz Adds Real Value Here
At Bank Whizz, our SBI CBO Descriptive English preparation focuses on:
- Exam-memory–based topic selection
- Framework-driven writing
- Typing-based full mocks
- Evaluator-style feedback (what SBI actually deducts marks for)
We don’t teach English.
We train you to score in SBI Descriptive English.
Final Takeaway
SBI CBO Descriptive English is:
- Highly scoring
- Highly predictable
- Highly dangerous if ignored
Those who prepare with structure clear the exam.
Those who rely on “good English” take risks.