The English section in SEBI Grade A Phase 1 carries 30 questions for 30 marks, and scoring 25+ here can give you a strong edge. With negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer, smart preparation and accuracy become very important. Let’s go through proven tips, strategies, and a study plan to help you achieve this target.
Understand the Exam Pattern and Target Score
Before starting preparation, you must know what you are preparing for. The English section of SEBI Grade A has 30 questions in 20 minutes. Each correct answer gives you 1 mark, but a wrong attempt takes away 0.25 marks. This means accuracy is just as important as knowledge.
To score 25+, you cannot afford to make too many mistakes. For example, if you attempt 28 questions, and 26 are correct while 2 are wrong, your score will be 25.5 marks (26 – 0.25×2). This is a safe margin. But if you attempt all 30 with lower accuracy, negative marking will drag your score down.
Reading Comprehension The Highest Scoring Topic
Reading Comprehension (RC) usually has the largest weightage 8 to 10 questions in one passage. Many students fear RC because the passage looks long, but it can actually be the easiest way to secure marks if you know the right approach.
Here’s how you should handle it:
- Quick Skim: Don’t read the whole passage line by line in the first go. Skim through to understand the topic and main idea. Usually, the first and last paragraphs reveal the theme.
- Look at Questions Early: After skimming, glance at the questions. This way, when you read again, your brain will automatically look for the answers.
- Focus on Keywords: Pay attention to names, numbers, dates, or words like “however,” “therefore,” and “in contrast.” These usually point to the areas from where questions are asked.
- Avoid Overthinking: Inference questions can be tricky. Stick to what is mentioned in the passage don’t bring outside knowledge.
By practicing RCs regularly, you will develop both speed and accuracy. Start with simpler passages, then gradually attempt economics, banking, or business-related RCs as they often appear in SEBI exams.
Error Spotting and Sentence Improvement
Error spotting tests your grammar foundation. These questions are short, but a single mistake can cost you 1.25 marks (including negative marking). The good news is that grammar follows fixed rules, so with practice, you can get almost 100% accuracy.
What you should do:
- Learn the common error types: subject-verb agreement (e.g., “He don’t” vs. “He doesn’t”), incorrect tenses, misplaced prepositions, or wrong article usage.
- Create an error checklist. Each time you read a sentence, mentally check: Is the subject matching the verb? Is the tense consistent? Are pronouns used correctly?
- Review your mistakes carefully. If you keep falling for preposition errors, revise them separately.
Sentence improvement questions also test grammar but in a more practical way—choosing the best sentence. Read all options carefully and go with the one that sounds both grammatically correct and logically smooth.
Para Jumbles and Sentence Rearrangement
Para jumbles can be time-consuming if you don’t have a method. These are usually 5–6 sentences shuffled, and you need to arrange them in the right order.
How to solve:
- Start by identifying the opening sentence. It will usually introduce the topic and will not contain pronouns like “he,” “she,” or “this.”
- Next, find the linking pairs. For example, if one sentence ends with “because of this,” the next one will explain the result.
- Pay attention to transition words like “however,” “therefore,” “on the other hand.” These act as connectors and guide the flow.
- If confused, don’t try to arrange all sentences at once. First find two pairs that clearly go together, then fit the rest around them.
Practice is key here. Initially, it might take you 4–5 minutes to solve one set, but with practice, you can reduce it to under 2 minutes.
Cloze Tests and Vocabulary
Cloze tests are passages with blanks where you need to fill in the correct words. They are designed to test your grammar, vocabulary, and understanding of context.
Steps to improve:
- Build a strong vocabulary. Learn 10–15 new words daily, but don’t just memorize—use them in sentences. This will help you recall them better.
- Focus on collocations (words that go together naturally), like “make a decision,” “take responsibility.” Many cloze questions are based on these.
- Practice phrasal verbs and prepositions, as they often decide the right answer in blanks.
- Learn banking and economy terms, since passages often come from financial contexts.
By combining vocabulary learning with cloze practice, you will strengthen both areas at once.
Timed Practice and Mock Tests
No matter how much you prepare, without practicing under time limits, you won’t perform well in the exam. The English section gives you 20 minutes for 30 questions, which means less than 40 seconds per question.
Why mocks are important:
- They help you build speed and stamina.
- They reveal your weak areas (e.g., you might realize you take too long on para jumbles).
- They train you to handle pressure and manage time wisely.
Make a habit of taking at least one sectional test every week in the beginning. In the last month, increase this to 3–4 sectional tests per week. Always review your mistakes after each test—that’s where real learning happens.
Daily Study Timetable (8 Weeks)
Here is a day wise study timetable for candidates which can be easily customized as per their requirement:
| Day | Task |
| Mon | 1 RC passage, 15 vocab words, 10 error spotting, 1 para jumble set |
| Tue | Cloze test (10 Qs), 15 vocab words, grammar rule revision, 1 RC |
| Wed | 1 RC passage, 15 vocab words, 10 sentence improvement, 1 para jumble |
| Thu | Cloze test (10 Qs), 15 vocab words, error spotting drill, 1 RC |
| Fri | Mixed practice (RC + grammar + cloze), 15 vocab words |
| Sat | Sectional English mock (30 Qs, 20 mins) |
| Sun | Error analysis, revise vocab, read 2 editorials (economy/banking) |
FAQs
The English section has 30 questions for 30 marks, with a time limit of 20 minutes.
Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
If you attempt 28–29 questions with at least 90% accuracy, you can easily score 25+ marks.
Reading Comprehension (RC) usually carries the highest weightage with 8–10 questions.
Skim the passage first, check questions before reading in detail, focus on keywords, and avoid using outside knowledge for inference-based questions.
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Priti Palit, is an accomplished edtech writer with 4+ years of experience in Regulatory Exams and other multiple government exams. With a passion for education and a keen eye for detail, she has contributed significantly to the field of online learning. Priti’s expertise and dedication continue to empower aspiring individuals in their pursuit of success in government examinations.