IBPS PO Descriptive Paper: Essay and Comprehension
Two typed tasks, 25 marks, 30 minutes, in English. The current notification says essay and comprehension, not a letter.
The IBPS PO descriptive paper is a 30-minute typed test inside the main exam: two questions, 25 marks, written in English. The last two notifications (CRP PO/MT-XV in 2025 and XVI in 2026) name it "Essay and Comprehension".
Many prep pages still describe it as an essay plus a letter. That is the older format. For IBPS PO, follow the current notification: one essay and one comprehension task.
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The Descriptive Paper at a Glance
From the CRP PO/MT-XVI notification (2026 cycle).
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where it sits | Listed as test 5 of the Main Examination, alongside the four objective tests |
| Tasks | Essay and Comprehension (2 questions) |
| Marks | 25 |
| Time | 30 minutes, separately timed |
| Language | English only |
| Mode | Online; you type your answers |
| Themes | Economic and social issues, emerging trends in banking and technology, current events, ethics |
| Evaluation | May be scored by a validated automated system that checks features of writing proficiency |
The Two Tasks
The notification names the tasks but does not describe their format; the Information Handout issued with the call letter is where IBPS gives detail.
- Essay
- A short argued piece on a set topic. Expect themes from the list above: a banking or technology trend, an economic or social issue, a current event or an ethical question.
- Comprehension
- A task built on reading. You show you understood a given text by responding to it in your own words. Read the handout for your cycle to see exactly what is asked.
Example Essay Themes (Our Illustrations, Not Past Questions)
Written by PrepClever to match the notification's four theme areas. None is taken from an IBPS paper.
- check_circleEconomic and social issues: can rural credit close the gap between farm and non-farm incomes?
- check_circleBanking and technology: what digital payments have changed for small shopkeepers
- check_circleCurrent events: one recent policy change and who it helps
- check_circleEthics: should a bank employee report a colleague's minor rule-breaking?
Data interpretation and arithmetic in the exam style. No signup.
A Workable 30-Minute Plan
A suggested split, not an IBPS rule. Two tasks share one 30-minute clock.
- 1
Read both questions first (2 minutes)
Decide which you can answer faster and do it first.
- 2
Essay (about 15 minutes)
One line stating your view, two or three body paragraphs with one point and one example each, and a two-line conclusion.
- 3
Comprehension (about 10 minutes)
Answer only what is asked, from the text given, in your own words. Copying lines from the passage shows little understanding.
- 4
Proofread (3 minutes)
Fix spelling, missing words and broken sentences. Typing errors read as writing errors.
How the Exam Tests This
IBPS says the paper may be marked by an automated system that looks for features of writing proficiency. In practice that rewards clear, correct, well-organised English that stays on the topic. It does not reward length for its own sake.
The usual trap is the memorised template: a stock opening and closing pasted onto any topic. It wastes time on a 30-minute clock and drifts from the question. The second trap is typing speed. Candidates who have only practised by hand often run out of time before finishing the second task.
The paper is part of the main exam, and the notification uses main exam marks for the interview shortlist and the final merit list. Treat its 25 marks as real marks, not a formality.
FAQs
What is the descriptive paper in IBPS PO?expand_more
A 30-minute, 25-mark typed paper in English inside the main exam, with two questions: an essay and a comprehension task, as per the 2025 and 2026 notifications.
Is letter writing asked in the IBPS PO descriptive test?expand_more
The current notification names the tasks as Essay and Comprehension, not a letter.
Is the IBPS PO descriptive test typed or handwritten?expand_more
Typed. It is an online test taken on the computer at the exam centre.
What topics come in the IBPS PO essay?expand_more
The notification says the paper may be broadly based on economic and social issues, emerging trends in banking and technology, current events and ethics.
Can I write the IBPS PO descriptive paper in Hindi?expand_more
No. The notification lists English as the only medium for the descriptive paper.
Next steps
Take a full IBPS PO mock testThe whole syllabus, timed and scored, in one sitting.