(Insights from Evaluated Copies)
After evaluating hundreds of Descriptive English answers for NABARD Development Assistant Mains, one pattern is painfully clear:
👉 Most aspirants do not lose marks because of poor English.
They lose marks because they repeat the same avoidable mistakes.
This post highlights the Top 10 most repeated mistakes seen in actual evaluated copies, explains why examiners penalise them, and tells you exactly how to fix each one.
If you correct even half of these, your Descriptive English score can improve dramatically.
What NABARD Examiners Expect (Context First)
Examiners evaluating copies for National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development are not judging creativity.
They check for:
- clarity,
- structure,
- relevance,
- discipline under time pressure.
Mistakes are judged harshly because the paper is short and competitive.
❌ Mistake #1: Starting to Write Without Planning
What aspirants do:
They see the question and start typing immediately.
What goes wrong:
- ideas scatter,
- structure breaks,
- time gets wasted fixing sentences.
How to fix:
Spend 60 seconds before each answer to lock:
- intro line,
- 3 core points,
- conclusion line.
This one habit alone fixes multiple issues.
❌ Mistake #2: Overwriting to “Sound Impressive”
What aspirants think:
More words = more marks.
Reality:
Examiners penalise:
- repetition,
- vague expansion,
- unnecessary examples.
Fix:
Target 10–15 words below the limit, not the maximum.
Clarity scores. Length does not.
❌ Mistake #3: Weak or Vague Introductions (Essays)
Common problem:
Introductions that say nothing concrete.
Example:
“In today’s modern world, the issue is very important…”
Why marks are cut:
No definition. No direction.
Fix:
Always begin with:
- clear definition +
- relevance to development/economy.
❌ Mistake #4: Treating Precis Like Paraphrasing
This is one of the biggest score killers.
What aspirants do:
Rewrite sentences one by one.
What examiners expect:
Compression of ideas, not sentences.
Fix:
- Identify the central argument first.
- Delete examples and repetition.
- Rewrite the logic afresh in neutral tone.
❌ Mistake #5: Adding Personal Opinions in Precis
Examples:
- “This is very important”
- “We must urgently act”
Why this fails:
Precis must be neutral and objective.
Fix:
Use reporting language:
- “The passage argues…”
- “It highlights…”
- “It suggests…”
No opinions. Only summary.
❌ Mistake #6: Poor Time Allocation Across Sections
Very common pattern:
- Essay → 18–20 minutes
- Precis → rushed
- Letter → incomplete
Fix (Non-negotiable):
- Essay → 12 minutes
- Precis → 10 minutes
- Letter → 8 minutes
Follow this even if the essay feels unfinished.
❌ Mistake #7: Casual or Inconsistent Tone
Examples seen:
- conversational phrases,
- emotional language,
- mixed formal–informal tone.
Why marks are cut:
NABARD expects institutional writing, not casual English.
Fix:
Write like you are addressing an official authority, not a friend.
❌ Mistake #8: Weak Letter Openings & Closings
Common issues:
- unclear purpose,
- abrupt endings,
- missing politeness markers.
Fix:
Memorise standard lines.
Openings:
- “I am writing to request…”
- “This letter is regarding…”
Closings:
- “I shall be grateful if…”
- “Thanking you.”
❌ Mistake #9: Trying to Be Creative Instead of Clear
Many aspirants attempt:
- poetic language,
- fancy metaphors,
- dramatic conclusions.
Reality:
Creativity adds risk, not marks.
Fix:
Use safe, simple, examiner-friendly sentences.
Safe writing > stylish writing.
❌ Mistake #10: Practising Sections in Isolation
A major hidden problem.
What aspirants do:
- practise only essays,
- or only precis,
- without time pressure.
Why it fails:
The exam tests combined execution, not isolated skills.
Fix:
Practise full 30-minute mocks:
Essay + Precis + Letter together.
What High-Scoring Copies Do Differently
From evaluated copies, high scorers consistently:
- use fixed structures,
- plan before writing,
- maintain neutral tone,
- complete all answers,
- respect word and time limits.
No magic. Just discipline.
Bank Whizz Insight: Why These Mistakes Persist
At Bank Whizz, we see aspirants improve rapidly once they:
- understand why marks were cut,
- stop repeating the same errors,
- receive feedback focused on structure and execution, not grammar alone.
Descriptive English improves fastest when mistakes are identified and eliminated consciously.
Final Takeaway
NABARD Descriptive English is not about:
- knowing more content,
- or writing better English.
It is about:
- not repeating common mistakes.
Fix these 10 errors, and your score automatically moves from:
👉 average → competitive → strong.