What You Must Know About the SIDBI Grade A & B English Descriptive Exam

🎯 Why This Section Is a Game-Changer

For aspirants of SIDBI Grade A (Assistant Manager) and Grade B (Manager), the English Descriptive Exam (Phase II – 75 marks in 75 minutes) is not just another section—it’s the ultimate differentiator. It tests:

  • Essay Writing
  • Précis Writing
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Business/Office Correspondence (Letter/Report)

While objective tests assess awareness, the Descriptive Exam gauges your ability to think, structure, and communicate professionally—key traits for a SIDBI officer.

📋 Official Exam Structure & Format

According to official patterns and expert guides:

  • Format: Online, typed responses
  • 3–4 tasks totaling 75 marks in 75 minutes (essay, précis, comprehension, and correspondence)
  • Marks distribution varies: typically one essay (~2×15 marks), one précis or comprehension (~2×10 marks), and a letter or report
  • The descriptive paper gets evaluated only for candidates who clear objective sections

📌 Key Insights You Need

  1. Typed Mode Only
    – Answers must be typed online. Check keyboard functionality before starting
  2. Structured Response
    – Essays need clear intros, logical bodies, and concise conclusions
    – Précis and comprehension demand accuracy and brevity
    – Correspondence requires formal tone and format (subject, salutations, closing)
  3. Time Charging
    – Effective time distribution boosts performance: TaskTime (min)Essay30Précis/Comprehension25Letter/Report15Final Review5
  4. Content Clout
    – Incorporate current banking/economic data to strengthen your argument
  5. Practice Is Key
    – Write daily: essay, précis, and correspondence samples
    – Full mocks weekly to mimic exam pressure

🛠️ Prep Guide: What to Focus On

✅ Writing Skills & Structure

  • Essay: Intro → Layers → Conclusion
  • Précis: Condense, retain essence
  • Comprehension: Identify tone, central idea, and inference
  • Correspondence: Follow official formats (addresses, salutation, subject, body, closing)

✅ Timing & Speed

  • Achieve 35–40 WPM typing speed through regular drills
  • Allocate specific time for each task and stick to it

✅ Quality Over Quantity

  • Use simple, precise language
  • Avoid fluff, jargon-heavy phrasing

✅ Enrich With Examples

  • Use real-world references like repo rate changes, MSME statistics, UPI usage, etc.

🧠 Top Tips to Shine

  1. Simulate the environment: Practice online typing and timed writing
  2. Seek feedback: Use mocks and peer review to refine clarity and accuracy
  3. Stay current: Refer to sources like RBI, Economic Times, and MSME updates daily
  4. Keep phrases ready: Have boilerplate intros, transitions (“Furthermore”), and closings (“Yours faithfully”)

📚 Expert Study Resources

  • BankWhizz – Comprehensive format insights and timed drills

🎯 Your Path to 75/75

  1. Start daily small writing: 15-min essays, précis, letters
  2. Track progress: Monitor word counts, typing rate, and error logs
  3. Join writing peer-groups: Share drafts, exchange critique
  4. Evaluate mocks weekly: Focus on format, language, data use
  5. Revise smartly: Template phrases, vocab lists, problem areas

🚀 Final Takeaway

The SIDBI Descriptive English Exam is more than a test—it’s a showcase of your analytical clarity, structured thinking, and professional communication. By focusing on format mastery, current-affairs content, timed writing, and continuous feedback, you’ll not only survive the 75 minutes—you’ll thrive.

Start preparing smartly today, and let every word bring you closer to your SIDBI dream!