SBI PO descriptive paper: sample letter and précis writing

The SBI PO descriptive paper tests whether you can communicate clearly under strict time pressure. Along with sound grammar, the examiner looks for structure, relevance, professional tone and the ability to express an argument without wasting words. Letter writing and précis writing are useful practice areas because they develop these skills quickly.

For candidates preparing from Australia, the challenge may include studying around university, shift work or family commitments while following an Indian examination schedule. Someone in Sydney or Melbourne may attend an online class late in the evening, while a candidate in Perth has to manage a different time-zone routine. The most effective preparation plan therefore needs flexibility, regular timed practice and reliable feedback.

Competitive Success in Bangalore supports bank and government exam preparation through classroom, weekend, crash, postal and online programmes. Its study materials, assignments, mock tests and doubt sessions can help candidates build an organised routine for SBI PO, whether they are studying in India or joining remotely from Australia.

What the SBI PO writing task assesses

The SBI PO Main examination has traditionally included a descriptive English test with tasks such as essay and letter writing, often completed within a short time limit. The exact pattern, marks and question types can change, so candidates should always check the latest official notification. Précis writing may not appear in every current SBI PO paper, yet it remains valuable practice for compression, reading accuracy and disciplined expression.

A strong response has a clear purpose from the first sentence. In a formal letter, the reader should immediately understand the issue, request or proposal. In a précis, the central idea should remain intact while examples, repetition and minor details are removed. A response that is grammatically correct but vague will usually be weaker than one that is simple, direct and well organised.

Aim for Australian English conventions when they do not conflict with the examination’s expected standard: write “organisation”, “prioritise” and “centre”, for example. However, avoid informal expressions common in everyday Australian conversation, such as “no worries”, “ heaps” or “arvo”, in an official letter. A bank manager, government officer or senior administrator expects respectful, neutral language.

Candidates who need a structured overview of available courses and formats can explore exam preparation options before selecting classroom or online support. A practical programme should include timed descriptive tasks, corrections and model answers rather than relying only on recorded lectures.

How to plan a formal letter

Spend two or three minutes identifying the recipient, purpose, tone and required action. A complaint letter should describe the problem factually and request a reasonable remedy. A request letter should explain the background briefly and state exactly what assistance is needed. Do not begin with a long personal story or repeat the question in different words.

Use a conventional format: sender’s address if required, date, recipient’s designation and address, subject, salutation, two or three concise body paragraphs, complimentary close and name. The subject should be specific, such as “Request for correction of an incorrect debit”, rather than “Regarding a problem”. Keep each paragraph focused: situation, impact and action requested.

The following model uses a banking situation that is realistic for SBI PO preparation. It is also relevant to candidates living in Australia who may be familiar with digital payments, ATM disputes and the need to contact a bank through formal channels. Notice that the writer does not make an emotional accusation and gives enough information for the branch to investigate.

Sample letter

The Manager
State Bank of India
Sheshadripuram Branch, Bengaluru
12 March 2025

Subject: Request for reversal of an unsuccessful ATM transaction

Dear Sir/Madam,

I maintain a savings account at your branch. On 10 March 2025, I attempted to withdraw ₹10,000 from the ATM located near the branch. The transaction was unsuccessful because no cash was dispensed; however, the amount was debited from my account. The transaction reference number is 458721.

I reported the matter through customer care on the same day, but the amount has not yet been credited. I request you to investigate the transaction and arrange a reversal at the earliest. A copy of the account statement and the transaction alert is enclosed for reference.

I would be grateful if you could confirm the action taken and inform me when the amount has been restored.

Yours faithfully,
Rahul Mehta

Improving précis writing accuracy

A précis is a shorter version of a passage that preserves its main argument, sequence and tone. Read the passage twice before writing. During the first reading, identify the subject and overall message. During the second, underline the essential points and group related ideas. Do not start reducing sentences mechanically before you understand the writer’s purpose.

Write the précis in your own words and usually in the third person, unless the original form requires another approach. Remove illustrations, quotations, repeated claims, statistics that do not support the core argument and decorative language. Replace a series of related words with one precise term, but do not change the writer’s meaning. A suitable title is often useful when the task requires one.

The length is normally about one-third of the original passage, although the stated instruction should take priority. Count words carefully if a limit is provided. Articles, short connecting words and hyphenated terms may be counted differently by different systems, so practise using a consistent method. Leave a few minutes to check verb agreement, pronouns, spelling and whether every sentence contributes to the central idea.

A useful Australian study habit is to practise with short opinion pieces from reputable newspapers or public-service websites, then compare your summary with the original. The language may include local references, but your précis should retain the author’s argument rather than adding your own view. This is especially important when studying in a busy city such as Brisbane or Perth, where quick mobile reading can encourage skimming.

Sample passage and model précis

Read the following passage as if it were a timed exercise. Its main subject is the relationship between digital banking and responsible customer behaviour. The examples support the argument but are less important than the central claim.

Passage: Digital banking has made financial services faster and more accessible. Customers can transfer money, pay bills and monitor accounts without visiting a branch. However, convenience also creates new responsibilities. Users must protect passwords, verify payment requests and review alerts regularly. Banks invest in security systems, but no technology can fully prevent fraud when customers disclose confidential information or respond carelessly to suspicious messages. Financial literacy is therefore as important as digital access. Schools, employers and banks should teach people how to identify scams, report unusual transactions and use secure channels. Responsible digital banking depends on cooperation between institutions and customers, not on technology alone.

Title: Responsible use of digital banking

Précis: Digital banking offers speed and convenience, but customers must use it responsibly. They should protect confidential details, monitor transactions and recognise fraudulent messages. Banks, schools and employers should promote financial literacy because secure banking depends on cooperation between service providers and informed users.

The model keeps the passage’s core progression: convenience, risk, customer responsibility and shared education. It removes the individual examples and combines related points. It does not claim that technology is useless, nor does it introduce an unrelated opinion about cash payments. Those are common errors in précis writing.

For additional reasoning practice alongside English work, candidates can review logical reasoning resources. Reasoning exercises help with identifying central ideas, separating evidence from conclusions and making decisions quickly, all of which support précis work even though the question types are different.

A practical routine for candidates in Australia

Set aside three focused sessions each week. In the first, write one formal letter in 15 to 20 minutes. In the second, complete a précis from a passage of 120 to 180 words. In the third, rewrite one earlier answer after checking grammar, tone, paragraphing and word count. This cycle is more productive than writing many answers without reviewing them.

Candidates working Australian hours can use a fixed local schedule, such as an early-morning session before a shift or a weekend block after university classes. Those in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane may prefer live online sessions aligned with Indian Standard Time, while Perth candidates should check the conversion carefully when attending a scheduled doubt class. A calendar should record both the Indian exam date and the candidate’s local date and time.

Build a personal error log with headings such as articles, prepositions, verb tense, punctuation, spelling, weak openings and unnecessary repetition. Keep a bank of formal phrases, but do not memorise complete answers. Suitable expressions include “I request you to investigate the matter”, “I would be grateful if you could” and “The passage highlights”. Using the same phrase in every answer can make writing sound mechanical.

Use mock tests to reproduce pressure: one descriptive task, a visible timer and no dictionary or phone. Afterward, mark the response in four areas—content, organisation, language and compliance with instructions. Candidates comparing study material choices should favour resources that provide evaluated writing, updated exam guidance and opportunities to clarify doubts.

Final checks before submitting

Reserve the last three to five minutes for editing. In a letter, confirm that the subject matches the body, the request is explicit and the closing is appropriate. Check that the recipient has been addressed correctly and that the tone remains courteous. A complaint can be firm without sounding rude, while a request should not appear demanding.

In a précis, compare each sentence with the original passage. Ask whether the main idea, essential supporting points and logical order are present. Remove personal comments, repeated phrases and details that belong in the source but not in the summary. Check that pronouns have clear references and that the title reflects the entire passage rather than one small example.

A final presentation check can protect marks that strong ideas might otherwise lose. Use readable paragraphs, consistent capitalisation and accurate punctuation. Avoid texting abbreviations, decorative headings and overly long sentences. Australian candidates can write naturally in Australian English while maintaining the formal register expected in an Indian banking examination.

The best preparation combines model analysis with repeated timed writing. A sample letter shows how purpose and tone work together, while a model précis demonstrates selection and compression. With regular practice, careful feedback and a routine adapted to local commitments, descriptive English becomes a manageable part of SBI PO preparation rather than an unpredictable final hurdle.