Essay and descriptive writing¶
UPSC and State PSC mains, SSC translator exams, and banking, insurance and regulator mains all test writing directly. The overlap map has the full list.
What it covers¶
- Essay: structure, thesis, argument, examples, conclusion (UPSC CSE Essay paper; UPSC CAPF Paper-II essay; SSC JHT essays in Hindi and English).
- Letters and emails, reports, précis and comprehension (SBI PO descriptive: email, situation analysis, report or précis; CAPF Paper-II comprehension and précis; IBPS PO letter and essay).
- Translation Hindi↔English (SSC JHT Paper-II: one passage each way).
- Mains answer writing for UPSC and State PSC: GS and optional papers reward structured, demand-specific answers.
- Descriptive answers in economics, finance and rural development (RBI Grade B Phase-II papers; NABARD Grade A Phase-II English and ESI/ARD descriptive).
- Time management in typed, strictly timed descriptive papers with sectional qualifying marks.
Depth by exam family¶
| Family | What the exam rewards |
|---|---|
| UPSC and State PSC mains | Long analytical essays and GS answers: structure, depth, examples |
| SSC translator (JHT) | Translation both ways plus an essay in each language (Paper-II: 200 marks, 2 hours) |
| Banking, insurance and regulators | Short typed tasks under time: emails, précis/report, essays, descriptive ESI answers |
Official syllabi this matches (read 2026-09-28; each exam's current notice is the final word):
- SSC Combined Hindi Translators Examination, 2026 notice (Paper-II descriptive): https://ssc.gov.in/api/attachment/uploads/masterData/NoticeBoards/Notice_of_adv_cht_2026.pdf
- RBI Grade B (DR) General PY2026 notice, Advt. No. RBISB/DA/01/2026-27 (Phase-II Papers I–III): https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=4997
- SBI PO 2026 advertisement (Mains descriptive: 3 communication-skills tasks, 30 marks, 30 minutes): https://sbi.co.in/web/careers/current-openings
- UPSC CAPF (AC) 2026, Notice No. 08/2026-CAPF (Paper-II: essay, comprehension, précis): https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/ExamNotifi_CAPF_AC_Exam_2026_Eng_20022026.pdf
Free resources¶
- NCERT English textbooks (grammar and reading base): https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php
- NIOS study material (self-paced English writing): https://www.nios.ac.in
- Yojana and Kurukshetra magazines, Publications Division (essay content models): https://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in
- Press Information Bureau releases (formal writing models): https://pib.gov.in
- RBI publications for banking and economy descriptive answers: https://www.rbi.org.in
- Official previous papers, linked from each exam page in this list, are the best practice material.
How to practise¶
Write one timed piece a week in your target exam's exact format (essay, letter, précis or translation), and get it checked against the question's demand. Keep an error log of grammar and word-choice mistakes and revise it weekly. Read one formal editorial or PIB release a day and summarise it in three lines.