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Preparing for SBI PO Descriptive Exam? Know Topics to Cover
How do I prepare for the English descriptive test, is one query commonly asked by aspirants appearing for bank exams.The concern
showcases vital importance this section has created among entrants since it decides their qualification.Candidates especially from rural areas & towns find this part to be difficult than objective test as it involves writing detailed answers in
english.

By knowing the exact pattern along with
the kind of questions to expect, it is possible to clear descriptive paper.

To help those getting ready for SBI PO recruitment 2013 exam our group
has compiled a comprehensive guide explaining about the descriptive english test
question paper

This article talks on 1) What is descriptive test 2) Pattern 3) Books 4) Sections

What Is It?
An officer in a bank will have to write letters, prepare reports or send views & opinions to
higher officials as & when required.
So descriptive paper as part of banking exams aims to check the english language
proficiency of applicants.
Every year, many candidates fail to secure pass marks in descriptive paper making them
ineligible for personal interviews. How?

If you do not clear or score qualifying marks in any objective section – your
descriptive test paper will not be taken up for evaluation.
Apart from securing minimum marks in each objective test, its also necessary to pass
in descriptive test.

Descriptive Exam Pattern
As already discussed the SBI PO exam will contain the following sections,


Some important points to understand to keep in mind


Minimum qualifying marks

Subject
Total marks
Gen
Obc
Sc/st
English
50
13
10
10
gk
50
11
7
7
Data analysis and interpretation
50
13
10
10
reasoning
50
86
74
70
Objective test cut off marks for
200
20
18
18
descriptive
50



total
250


This is just to give you an idea..not so perfect
Some important points to understand in here are:
1.  You will have to answer descriptive section within 60 minutes (1 hour)
2.  It shall be conducted for 50 marks
3.  In SBI PO 2011 exam descriptive cutoffs were 20 (gen) & 18 (others). See

previous year SBI examination cutoffs for the complete picture. 
You can expect the english descriptive paper to contain questions from these categori
Letter Writing
Precis writing
Essay Writing
Reading comprehension & Paragraph writing
Previous year questions:
In the previously conducted common written examination for PO/MT posts, descriptive
test paper consisted of the below questions (based on memory)

1.  Write a letter to a branch for closing savings account OR to a friend inviting
him/her for seminar on netbanking OR to a bank for higher education loan.
2.  Write an essay on any of the given topics a) Right to education act b) Financial
Inclusion c) How technology can benefit banking industry.

The word count specified in the question is important as you will have to write the
answers on the question paper itself, within the space provided.

Books:
Whatever be the exam, preparatory books act as source of reference.Here are some
good books for SBI PO recruitment from Arihant publications

* How to crack SBI PO exam (guide with explanations/solved papers) – Rs.296

* Descriptive English Guide (covers SBI PO descriptive) – Rs.259 

How to Prepare:
A general rule that must be followed while answering is not to make spelling mistakes.
Now let us see what type of questions could be asked in each category.

Letter writing: There shall be internal choices for this part.You will be asked to write a
letter to someone you know (parents, friend, relation etc) or to a bank manager enquiring
about a service or to a newspaper editor.

Refer to the books mentioned above or use your Std.X or XII grammar book to know
about letter formats.

Essay writing: A topic/title is given based on which you need to write an essay in about
250 words.This is also an internal choice question wherein three topics shall be provided
for you to choose any one.

It is not possible to memorize articles beforehand.So pick up a random topic related to
banking, finance, current affairs etc.,& practice writing.Here is our list, which you can try:
FDI in retail
Rise of the American dollar
Are bank mergers beneficial?
Latest technologies in banking
Precis Writing: Read the given article of atleast 500 words, understand its meaning,
summarize & make a precis (shorter version).The only requirement is – do not change
the meaning of the original passage.
For practicing -
1.  Take a long newspaper report,
2.  Leave unnecessary details,
3.  Pick only the important statements
4.  Write a summary.
Ask any of your family or friends to compare both to make sure you have not deviated
from the original.

Paragraph writing: Titles will be printed & you must write a paragraph related to the
given topic in not more than 150 words.

To write good paragraphs, sentence formation should be proper & to cultivate it one
must read english magazines & newspapers.Story or comic books can also help you gain
control over writing skills.

Paper 2:
banking related questions suggested Descriptive
paper question were
 1.Right to Education Act
 2. Rural Development
 3. Write a letter to bank manager issue loan , go for higher studies in USA
 4. write a letter to your friend , attend seminar and topic is NETBANKING
5. write a letter to close your account in a bank
 6.what is Financial Inclusion
 7. Banking industry growth 8. If I were an author....
. 9. How technology is helpful for Banking sector.

Paper3:

1.Give Three measures to improve the life of people affected from Terrorism.
or
Give Three measures to improve the life of people living in Industrial Slums.( I don’t know exactly but the language o
quite similar I attempted the Terrorism related Question)
2. Give three measures to provide potable water in rural areas. Also analyze the effects of the efforts taken so far
Describe the effects of the Public Distribution System (PDS). Also mention how it can be improved.
3. Give Three Views For & Against
” Salary of M.P’s Should be increased or not? ( Intresting one only one answer absolutely not Ha Ha Ha …! Though it’s been increased
now)
or
” Do not rot the grains, feed the poor” statement stated by Supreme court.
4. Financial literacy should be made available to Vulnerable Sectins of society to make them aware of Financial services along with
their Instinct Benefits. Discuss the statement.
or
Unique Identification (UDI) is actually a mobile utility. Give views.
5. Analyze the effect of T.v (Viewing) on the mind of the Young Generation
or
Analyze the effect of Magazines(Reading) on the mind of the Young Generation Caste System in India


Note:
Friends I have collected this from different sites.. I have not prepared on my own..

But what I want to infer conclusion points from the above questions asked on how to do well in the exam.


See officer in a banking is a prestigious one.. so many problems we deal with.. today what ever we deal
In banking is purely related to money

As everyone know money plays important role in the economy so banks deals with almost every sector of our economy.
Clearly if u observe the questions asked previously.. we can say that he is going deep in the economy..i think u didn’t get that.. k fro example consider the question asked

1.Give Three measures to improve the life of people affected from Terrorism.(see here asked about terrorism so we need to know some
Thing about terrorism.. recently where effected so we need to read newspapers)
or
Give Three measures to improve the life of people living in Industrial Slums.( I don’t know exactly but the language o
quite similar I attempted the Terrorism related Question
2. Give three measures to provide potable water in rural areas. Also analyze the effects of the efforts taken so far
Describe the effects of the Public Distribution System (PDS). Also mention how it can be improved.
3. Give Three Views For & Against
” Salary of M.P’s Should be increased or not? ( Intresting one only one answer absolutely not Ha Ha Ha …! Though it’s been increased
now)
or
” Do not rot the grains, feed the poor” statement stated by Supreme court.
4. Financial literacy should be made available to Vulnerable Sectins of society to make them aware of Financial services along with
their Instinct Benefits. Discuss the statement.
or
Unique Identification (UDI) is actually a mobile utility. Give views.
5. Analyze the effect of T.v (Viewing) on the mind of the Young Generation
or
Analyze the effect of Magazines(Reading) on the mind of the Young Generation Caste System in India



K lets discuss this questions.. by inferring

All these questions .. I said previously to read gktoday.in why because he will give apt explanations
Of what is going around and by that you can know how will be our economy.. what goes how it effects economy..

So do read the banking material provided in this site ie: from gktoday site only. And also read daily gktoday.in to understand our economy.. what’s going on..hope I think it is useful to u


If you have any doubts in banking terminology can ask me at 8971042537 and vatadapraveen@gmail.com