Descriptive Test Preparation

Pattern & Syllabus of the Descriptive Test: As per the

notification for the SBI PO 2015 Exam,

1. The Descriptive Test will be of 1 hour duration with

50 marks.

2. This Test will contain questions from Letter Writing

& Essay topics.

3. The Descriptive test will be conducted in online

mode and candidates will have to answer the test by
typing on the computer.

Note: The minimum qualifying marks for the

descriptive test in the previous year's exam were 20
marks for General category candidates and 18 marks
for other category candidates.

Now, the point is "How to prepare for the Descriptive

Test"? For this, you have to devise a well-thought out
exam strategy and prepare accordingly.

Now let's discuss the topics covered in the

descriptive test of SBI PO 2015 Exam:

1. Letter Writing:This topic tests a candidate's ability

to precisely and effectively communicate with the
person to whom the letter is addressed.

Important points to keep in mind before writing a

letter:

1. Format of the letter:Writing a letter in the correct

format is very important to score good marks in the
descriptive test. An examiner always looks at
whether the letter is written in the correct format and
gives marks accordingly.

2. Everything should be written on the left hand side

(left aligned).

3. In the first line, write your name;below that, write

your street address, city, state and ZIP code.

4. Leave one line below your name and address.Now,

mention the date.

5. Leave one line.Now mention the recipient's name,

followed by his address.

6. After the recipient's name and address, write down

the subject of the letter.

7. Start the body of the letter with a salutation

(greeting, acknowledgement).

If you're writing a formal letter, you can use "Dear

Sirs," "Dear Madams," or "Dear Sirs/Madams."
"Respected Sirs/Madams".

If you're writing an informal letter, you can use

"Dear" or "Hello," as well as more informal greetings
such as "Hi" or "Hey."

8. After the salutation, write the main text of the

letter.Try to make one significant point per
paragraph, and make sure you use the correct
punctuation, spelling and grammar.

9. Always end your letter with a complimentary

ending and your name. For formal letters, write
"Sincerely yours," "Kindest regards," or "Yours
faithfully."For an informal letter, you can use
"Sincerely," "Regards," or "Best." You could also use
"Very sincerely," "Very best," or "Cordially."

10. What is a Formal letter: If you're writing to a Bank

Manager, any government official, dignitary,
academic official or anyone else with whom you hope
to have a professional relationship, the letter should
be formal.

11. What is an Informal letter: If you're writing to

your friend, to your relatives, a co-worker, a distant
or elderly relative, the letter should probably be
informal.

12. It is important to note that, during the exam,you

should not mention your name in the letter. You can
use ABC or XYZ in place of your name.

Format of the letter:

ABC

B - Wing, 602

Galaxy Enclave

Dadar, Mumbai

Maharashtra - 400014

Date: May 15, 2015

To,

The Branch Manager,

State Bank of India

Dadar, Mumbai

Subject: ______________.

Dear Sir,

Body: Write your message here.

Yours faithfully

ABC

2. Essay: Essay writing is another essential part of

the descriptive test. It involves organising and
structuring your thoughts and ideas. It requires good
writing skills and imagination. Before writing an
essay, plan your thoughts and ideas and put them on
the paper in a very structured manner.

How to prepare for essay writing:

1. Make a habit of reading daily English Newspapers.

This will improve your general awareness and help
you in essay writing.

2. Read articles and editorial columns of newspapers

and try to write some of those articles in your own

words in your notebook and also type out the same
on your desktop or laptop.

3. Always refer to the dictionary if you do not know

the meaning of a word or when you are in doubt
about any unfamiliar usage of a word.

4. Reading and writing articles will help you in

putting your ideas on paper and will ensure that you
have good command over language.

5. Buy books for essay writing and start your

preparation. Write two essays daily on a regular
basis.

Important points to keep in mind before writing an

essay:

1. Please read the questions and instructions

carefully, before you start writing any essay in the
exam.

2. Select the topic in which you are most confident

and about which you have proper knowledge.

3. Before you start writing your essay, note down all

your ideas on a rough sheet.

4. Also try to write your essay in three parts Introduction, Subject and Conclusion.

5. Always try to write in a simple and precise (to the

point) manner.

6. Do not repeat any sentence in the essay.

7. Avoid spelling and grammar errors.

Note: Please buy a good book for letter writing&

essay and start your preparation early. As the
descriptive test will be conducted in online mode,
you should practice two letters(formal or informal)
and two essays on a daily basis. Write a letter or
essay in your notebook; then, type out the letter on
your desktop or laptop. This will improve your writing
skills and also improve your typing speed.

Here are some suggested books for the descriptive

test portion of the SBI PO 2015 Exam:

1. Descriptive English book - Kiran Prakashan

2. Descriptive General English book- S.P. Bakshi and

Richa Sharma

3. Crack Descriptive English - Varuna Sharma

4. Descriptive English- SC Gupta

5. Descriptive English - K. Kundan

Letter Writing Topics Asked in SBI PO & SBI Associate
PO 2014 Exam
1. A letter to Complaint Letter : Being a
customer of a so and so bank, you have to
write a complaint letter to the Bank Manager
about the negligence / irresponsibility of the
employees

2. Letter to Editor : About tampering the

currency notes by punching pins to it.

3. An Informal Letter about telling your friend

about the advantages of PPF account and
suggesting him to open a PPF account.

4. You are withdrawing money from ATM but

the ATM turn out to be malfunctioned. So,
money didn't come out but deducted from
account. Write a letter to bank manger for
refund.

5. Letter to regional manager for change in

bank timing as it is inconvenient for
customers.

6. A Letter to Superintendent of Police raising

the concern over the increased cases of theft
near ATM.

7. A letter to bank for applying educational

loan providing all particulars.

8. A letter to friend for encouraging and

wishing him for civil service examination which

he is writing for the third time.

9. A letter to editor for publishing some

articles on stress management since these are
exam season.

10. A letter to bank manager about the bad

habit of stapling currency notes

11. A letter to friend to aware him about the

importance and benefit of PPF (Public
Provident Fund) account.

12. A letter to the Bank Manager for the rude

behavior of one of the employee.

13. A letter to the Manager of the Bank for the

Overdraft Facility which you stopped long ago
with the bank.

14. Write a letter to the K/S for giving you

consignment glassware in which one of the
consignment was damaged and asked for the

compensation to the K/S Company.

15. Letter to the editor for disturbance of

pigeon caused to society

16. Letter to Branch manager to add your

daughter's name as a second nominee for your
savings account

17. Letter to your friend to avoid junk food and

inform her/him about its bad consequences

18. Write a letter to your friend explaining him

your retirement plan

19. Mr. Piyush applied for loan of Rs. 26 lacs

but he is eligible only for Rs. 22 lacs. Write a
letter as a Bank Manager telling him about the
refusal of his loan in a polite manner.

20. Write a letter to a client of your bank who

got a car loan from you 2 years ago and has
sold it now without paying the load.

21. Write a letter to your friend whose pet has

been stolen

22. Write a letter to editor of news paper about

unregulated load shading in your area

23. Write a letter to your those friend who

spend whole time in computer and Mobile
phone to encouraging him about to outdoor
game

24. Write a letter to your friend sharing

experience of selection in SBI PO Exam.

25. Write an application to branch manager as

you have lost your receipt of term deposit
which matures in next week asking him what
steps needs to be taken next.

26. Write a letter to a friend asking him to stop

eating junk food and take care of health.

27. Write a letter to a bank manager asking

him to make her daughter as 2nd nominee.

28. Write a letter to a friend who has got

scholarship to study in abroad but is not
willing to go as he is a single child of his
parents.

29. Write a letter to the Airlines Authority that

you have left your cabin bag yesterday in the
flight.

30. You completed B.com (Banking &

Insurance). Write an unsolicited letter to bank
manager for the job.

31. Write a letter to a friend advising him/her

not to loose hope after failure in university
exam.

32. Letter to the Editor about Air Pollution and

giving some suggestions.

33. Write a letter to a letter to client as

Manager to help him close his savings account.

34. Write a letter to the newspaper regarding

loan easiness.

35. Write a letter to the bank manger reporting

him about missing of debit card

36. Write a letter to your friend telling him to

don't lose heart but hope for better future
from her vast experience from life

37. Write a letter to your friend suggesting him

to visit the Capital's Museum. Also, give
importance of the visit.

38. Write a letter to the higher authority of

your bank to give promotion on the basis of
your efficiency and loyalty as you have given
24 years of service to the bank

List of Topics Asked in SBI Associate PO 2014

Exam

Letter Writing

1. Letter to the Editor for describing the

menace of Electronic Waste

2. Letter to your DTH Operator to deactivate

your connection for one month since you'll be
out of station!

3. Letter to ISRO team to congratulate them

about their Mars Orbitor mission

4. Letter from you (bank manager) to account

holder asking him not to deactivate his debit
card and provide him information about
benefits of debit card

5. Letter to the BSNL Manager to Surrender

your Land line Phone Number

6. Letter to a Bank Manager to open a branch

in your neighbourhood

7. Letter to an Editor about your views on ever

increasing crime against women.

8. Letter to a leading computer manufacturer

for OS upgrade of your bank's terminals (PCs).

9. Write a letter to your Bank Manager seeking

loan for a second home. Also inform him about
the loan on your first home that has not been
repaid fully, yet.

10. Lodge a police complaint for having lost

your wallet.

List of Essay Writing Topics Asked

in SBI PO & SBI Associate PO 2014
Exam
1. Is election commission right in banning election
symbols during casting of votes?

2. Roll of uneducated people in Indian Economy.

3. Is generation gap a myth?

4. Enslavement of man by technology.

5. Is presidential form of government is suitable for

India?

6. Those who saved More Taxed More. Justify

7. The Viability of Presidential Form of Govt In India.

8. Benefits of Mutual fund investments.

9. United Nation Organizations contribution towards

the recent turmoil's in Ukraine.

10. India's Place in research paper survey.

11. Suggestions to alleviate unemployment problem.

12. Role of newspapers in influencing society or

youth.

13. Contribution of unskilled labour in Indian

economy.

14. How can education on economy are indulged in

the college study?

15. Future of Banking Industry.

16. Pros and cons of allowing 10 year old children to

open accounts.

17. How economy is is related to common man?

18. Global Market.

19. How far can a press have license to infringe in

others privacy?

20. Corporate Social Responsibility.

21. Relevance of Swadeshi on Globalization.

22. There is no permanent friend or enemy in politics

give examples from Indian politics.

23. Two types function of government are necessary

and optional.

24. If I were minister of Banking Industry.

25. How to stop farmer suicides?

26. Role of effective credit rating.

27. Tackling communication gap between the families

due to mass media and internet.

28. Advantages of classroom education over distance

learning

29. Transformation caused on workplace by

information technology In past two decades

30. Use of animals in scientific research.

31. Economic importance of tourism.

32. Will India ever be a developed country?

33. Women Empowerment

34. Banking Risk and Management.

35. Delinking of commodities to drop price hike in

share market

36. Setting personal financial goal early in life.

37. Women's Safety - It is our responsibility

38. Village v/s Town.

List of Essay writing topics asked in SBI Associate PO

2014 Exam

1. Benefit and Disadvantages of E-Commerce.

2. Pros and Cons of outsourcing of banking activities.

3. Mutual Fund.

4. Stable government is important for economic

growth.

5. How NABARD is a boon to Indian Agricultural

Sector?

6. How Nationalized Banks has contributed to the

growth of Economy in India?

7. How would you arrest Global Warming?

8. How Tourism effects Religious pilgrimage?