SBI PO Descriptive Test New Pattern: The SBI PO Descriptive Test 2025 has been revised to better evaluate candidates’ communication and writing skills. Unlike the earlier format, which focused mainly on essay/letter writing, the new test now includes email writing, situation analysis, and report/precis writing. This change makes the exam more practical, as these are real-life skills required in a banking career. Candidates must now focus on clarity, accuracy, and logical thinking while attempting this section.
What’s New in the SBI PO Descriptive Test 2025?
The new descriptive paper will last 30 minutes and carry 50 marks. Candidates need to attempt two questions: one from the email/situation/report-precis options given. Each section is designed to test different skills. Email Writing (15 marks) tests formal communication, Situation Analysis (15 marks) evaluates problem-solving skills, and Report/Precis (20 marks) checks structured writing and summarization ability. The paper is in English only, and presentation, grammar, and logical flow are equally important along with content
Why the New Pattern in the SBI PO Descriptive Test 2025?
The new descriptive test pattern is designed to develop skills that banking professionals actually use in their careers. Writing professional emails helps in clear communication with customers and colleagues. Report and precis writing trains officers to present information in a concise and structured way, which is vital for decision-making. Situation analysis prepares them to handle real workplace challenges logically and ethically. Overall, this pattern ensures future officers are job-ready from day one.
What is email writing?
Email writing is one of the most practical parts of the SBI PO descriptive test. It tests your ability to write clear, concise, and professional emails. As a PO, you will communicate with customers, staff, and senior officials. Hence, you must learn how to draft short yet impactful messages. Always stick to the subject, use a formal tone, avoid unnecessary words, and follow proper formatting.
Practice Topics for Email Writing
- Write an email to customers informing them about new digital payment security guidelines.
- Write an email to your manager explaining the reasons for the delay in submitting a branch performance report.
- Write an email to staff about a new initiative on customer service improvement.
- Draft an email informing customers about revised interest rates on fixed deposits.
- Write an email to your team regarding the importance of maintaining confidentiality of customer data.
What is situation analysis writing?
Situational Analysis is a new addition to SBI PO descriptive 2025. It is designed to test your ability to handle workplace challenges logically and ethically. You will be given a scenario like a customer complaint, an ethical dilemma, or a fraud case, and you must explain how you would resolve it. Your answer should show balance, clarity, and professional judgment. Remember to analyze the problem step by step and then provide practical solutions.
Practice Topics for Situation Analysis
- A customer alleges that a staff member misguided them into buying a policy. Write your analysis.
- Your branch has received several complaints regarding ATM cash shortages. Suggest your course of action.
- You find an employee leaking confidential data. Explain how you will deal with it.
- A team member is consistently underperforming, which is affecting targets. How will you handle the situation?
- Customers are unhappy with long waiting times in your branch. Suggest steps to improve service.
What is report/precis writing?
Report and precis writing focus on structured and summarized communication. Report writing requires you to present facts and events in a systematic way, often with headings and subheadings. Precis writing tests your ability to shorten a passage without losing meaning. These skills are crucial for banking officers, as they often deal with reports, circulars, and long documents that must be read and interpreted quickly. Practicing both will improve your ability to communicate clearly.
Practice Topics for Report/Precis Writing
- Write a report on the increasing use of digital banking in rural areas.
- Write a report on financial literacy programs organized by your branch.
- Write a precis of a passage on the role of technology in modern banking.
- Write a precis of a passage about financial inclusion in India.
- Draft a report on the impact of customer grievance redressal initiatives.
How to Prepare for the SBI PO Descriptive Test 2025?
The best way to prepare for this test is by practicing regularly and understanding the proper format for each section. Read newspapers, RBI reports, and banking updates to improve your content base. Practice at least one email, one situation analysis, and one report/precis every day. Work on grammar, vocabulary, and logical flow. Attempt timed mock tests to get used to writing within 30 minutes. Remember, clarity and correctness matter more than length or fancy vocabulary.
If candidates are still confused on how to prepare for the latest SBI PO Descriptive Test, then it’s better to join a dedicated course. The course details are below:
- 10+ live sessions on email, precis, report, & situation analysis writing.
- 10+ exclusive classes for Objective English.
- 5 full-length descriptive mock tests with expert feedback.
- Detailed PYQ analysis and downloadable notes.
- Special sessions to improve critical thinking.
- Flexible Hinglish learning with 24×7 access.
This course ensures you get expert guidance, practice the latest exam pattern, and improve both your objective and descriptive English skills.
FAQS
Ans: The SBI PO Descriptive Test 2025 will be of 30 minutes duration and carry 50 marks in total. Candidates will have to attempt 2 questions out of the given options. The sections include: Email Writing (15 marks), Situation Analysis Writing (15 marks), and Report/Precis Writing (20 marks).
Ans: Yes, the descriptive test is qualifying in nature. However, poor performance may impact your overall selection as the final merit list is prepared based on Mains + Interview, and you must clear the descriptive test to be considered.
Ans: Generally, email writing should be around 80–100 words, situation analysis around 150–200 words, and report/precis around 120–150 words. Exceeding the limit may affect your score, as clarity and conciseness are important.
Ans: No. You need to attempt the required number of questions as instructed in the exam (usually 2 questions). Skipping one will leave you short of marks and may reduce your chances of qualifying.
Ans: The best way is to practice one email, one situation analysis, and one precis/report daily. Type your answers on a computer to simulate exam conditions. Regular practice, along with mock tests and feedback, will help you improve speed, accuracy, and presentation.
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