Descriptive Writing (Letter and Essay)
What the paper wants
Usually one letter (formal or semi-formal: complaint, request, application, or letter to the editor) and one essay on a banking, economic or social topic. Marks come from structure, relevance and correctness - not from ornate vocabulary.
Letter structure
Sender's address, date, receiver's designation, subject line, salutation, three short paragraphs (purpose - details - action requested), and a formal closing. Use 'Yours sincerely' with a named recipient and 'Yours faithfully' with 'Dear Sir/Madam'. Respect the stated word limit, typically about 150 words for the letter and 250 for the essay.
Essay structure
Open with a definition or a striking fact, write two or three body paragraphs each carrying one idea with an example or data point, add a short counterpoint paragraph acknowledging the other side, then conclude with a forward-looking suggestion. Keep sentences short.
Traps
- Slang and contractions ('I'm', 'gonna') in a formal letter; always use full forms.
- Writing a story instead of an argument in the essay.
- Exceeding the word limit - examiners stop rewarding content beyond it.
- Misspelling scheme names and standard banking terms (NBFC, MSME, KYC, NPA).
- Omitting the subject line or salutation, which are easy structural marks.
Rule of thumb
Spend two minutes drafting four bullets, one per paragraph. A plain, well-organised answer beats a flowery, disorganised one every time.
Worked micro-example
For 'Financial inclusion through digital banking', the four bullets could be: definition and context, UPI and Jan Dhan evidence, barriers of literacy and connectivity, and a practical way forward.