The English section in RBI Assistant 2026 is one of the highest-scoring sections if candidates prepare it properly. A total of 30 questions for 30 marks are asked in Prelims, and 40 questions for 40 marks are asked in Mains from English alone. The level is not very difficult, but accuracy is extremely important because the overall cutoff is high. Candidates with clear grammar fundamentals and regular practice can easily score well in this section.
How to Prepare English for RBI Assistant 2026?
Since RBI Assistant is an assistant-level exam, the proficiency required is basic to moderate, not advanced. Most questions test grammar rules, vocabulary usage, and reading comprehension ability. Candidates who understand grammar concepts and practice regularly can score 25+ marks in Prelims and 30+ marks in Mains, which significantly improves selection chances.
RBI Assistant English Syllabus, Questions Asked, and Level
The English section tests grammar, comprehension, vocabulary, and sentence structure understanding. The syllabus is the same for Prelims and Mains, but the difficulty level is slightly higher in Mains. The syllabus includes:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Error Detection
- Phrase Replacement
- Fill in the Blanks
- Para Jumbles
- Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Word Usage)
| Stage | Questions | Marks | Time | Level | Focus Areas |
| Prelims | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | Easy to Moderate | Grammar basics, fillers, short RC |
| Mains | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes | Moderate | Inference-based RC, error correction, vocabulary |
Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate in Prelims. Moderate in Mains, with more inference-based questions in RC. Also remember, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer, so do not guess blindly.
Topic-Wise Weightage in RBI Assistant English Section
Candidates must focus more on reading comprehension, error detection, cloze tests, and vocabulary, as these topics carry maximum weightage. Based on previous years’ exam analyses, the following topics are most important.
| Topic | Expected Questions (Prelims) | Expected Questions (Mains) | Importance |
| Reading Comprehension | 8–10 | 10–12 | Very High |
| Cloze Test | 5–7 | 5–7 | High |
| Error Detection | 5–7 | 5–8 | Very High |
| Phrase Replacement | 3–5 | 5–7 | High |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3–5 | 3–5 | Moderate |
| Para Jumbles | 3–5 | 5 | Moderate |
| Vocabulary | 3–5 | 5–8 | High |
Know the 120 Rules
At least 40–50% of the English section in RBI Assistant is directly or indirectly grammar-dependent. Candidates should aim to cover all 120 standard grammar rules that are frequently tested in banking exams. These include subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles (a, an, the), prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, parallelism, modifiers, reported speech, active and passive voice, and conditional sentences.
- The most effective way to study grammar is to study topic by topic
- Study one rule, understand the exceptions, and then immediately solve 15–20 questions based on that rule before moving to the next.
- Revising grammar every week is equally important, because these rules are easy to confuse with each other if not revisited regularly.
- You do not need to memorize rules verbatim, but you should be able to instinctively spot what is wrong in a sentence and why a particular option corrects it.
How to Prepare Vocabulary for RBI Assistant English?
Vocabulary plays an important role because it helps in reading comprehension, cloze tests, and fillers. Candidates must build vocabulary gradually and revise regularly.
- Read editorials daily from newspapers like The Hindu and Indian Express
- Learn 10–15 new words daily and revise them regularly
- Note down meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and usage
- Start with easy words, then move to moderate and difficult words
- Revise vocabulary weekly to improve retention
- Practice vocabulary questions from mock tests
Important Tip: Candidates must also learn the 120 important grammar rules, including subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, and prepositions. These rules help in solving Cloze Test, Error Detection, and Phrase Replacement questions.
How to Prepare for the Cloze Test for RBI Assistant English?
Cloze test questions assess grammar knowledge, vocabulary, and contextual understanding. Candidates must fill blanks in a paragraph based on correct grammar and logical meaning. These questions are scored because they follow standard grammar rules and sentence structure. Candidates must first understand the overall meaning of the paragraph and then choose answers based on grammar and context. Regular practice helps candidates improve accuracy and speed.
- Read the entire paragraph carefully before answering
- Understand the overall meaning and tone of the paragraph
- Identify which type of word is required (noun, verb, adjective)
- Apply grammar rules such as subject-verb agreement
- Use elimination method to remove incorrect options
- Practice Cloze Test questions regularly
Important Tip: Avoid guessing answers without understanding the context, as similar options are often given to confuse candidates.
How to Prepare for Error Detection for RBI Assistant English?
Error detection questions test grammar fundamentals and sentence correctness. This topic is highly scoring because most questions are based on standard grammar rules. Candidates with strong grammar fundamentals can easily solve these questions. Candidates must carefully read sentences and identify grammatical errors based on grammar rules and sentence structure.
- Learn grammar rules topic-wise
- Focus on subject-verb agreement, tenses, and prepositions
- Practice error detection questions regularly
- Analyze mistakes and revise grammar rules
- Read sentences carefully before selecting answers
Important Tip: Most error detection questions follow common grammar rules, so strong grammar fundamentals ensure accuracy.
How to Prepare for Reading Comprehension for RBI Assistant English?
Reading comprehension is the most important topic in the RBI Assistant English section because it carries the highest weightage. Passages are usually story-based or related to banking, economy, and current affairs. Questions test comprehension ability, vocabulary, and logical understanding. Candidates must develop a daily reading habit to improve reading speed and comprehension ability. Regular practice improves accuracy and confidence.
- Read editorials daily to improve reading ability
- Practice Reading Comprehension questions regularly
- Read questions first, then read the passage
- Focus on understanding the main idea
- Avoid spending too much time on difficult questions
Important Tip: Improving reading habits helps in both vocabulary improvement and comprehension accuracy
How to Prepare Phrase Replacement for RBI Assistant English?
Phrase replacement questions test grammar knowledge and sentence correctness. Candidates must identify incorrect phrases and replace them with correct ones. These questions are rule-based and scoring. Candidates must understand grammar rules and sentence structure properly to solve these questions accurately.
- Learn grammar rules thoroughly
- Practice sentence correction questions regularly
- Focus on tense, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement
- Use elimination technique
Important Tip: Grammar fundamentals are essential to solve phrase replacement questions correctly.
How to Prepare Fill in the Blanks for RBI Assistant English?
Fill in the Blanks questions test vocabulary and grammar knowledge. Candidates must select correct words based on sentence meaning and grammar rules. These questions are direct and scoring. Candidates must focus on vocabulary improvement and grammar fundamentals.
- Improve vocabulary regularly
- Learn grammar rules properly
- Understand sentence context carefully
- Practice regularly
Important Tip: Understanding sentence meaning is more important than memorizing words.
How to Prepare Para Jumbles for RBI Assistant English?
Para Jumbles questions test logical sequencing and sentence flow understanding. Candidates must arrange sentences in the correct logical order. Candidates must understand sentence relationships and logical flow.
- Identify opening sentence carefully
- Find logical connections between sentences
- Look for linking words
- Practice regularly
Important Tip: Logical thinking improves accuracy in para jumble questions.
Section-Wise Attempt Strategy for RBI Assistant English
Candidates should follow a proper attempt strategy during the exam to maximize their score.
- Attempt Error Detection and Fill in the Blanks first, as they take less time
- Attempt Cloze Test next
- Attempt Reading Comprehension carefully after analyzing questions
- Attempt paragraph jumbles and Phrase Replacement last
Candidates should avoid guessing answers without understanding the question. Accuracy is more important than attempting all questions.
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Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.