Bank Exam English: Common Errors That Cost Marks

English in bank exams has a reputation for being unpredictable. In practice, the same small set of traps comes back again and again in error spotting, the cloze test tests reading more than vocabulary, and para jumbles reward a method more than intuition. Most lost marks come from three habits: reading a sentence for meaning instead of structure, filling a blank without reading the whole passage, and ordering sentences by "feel".

This post works through each of these with examples. Every example sentence here is written for this post, not taken from a past paper. For a broader look at mistakes in English preparation (study habits, reading, vocabulary), see English language: common mistakes and how to fix them. This one stays inside the exam hall.

How much English matters, by exam

English carries a different weight in each stage. In SBI PO prelims it is 40 of 100 marks; in SBI PO mains it was reported as 40 questions for only 20 marks in recent cycles. In clerk exams it is 30 questions in prelims and 40 in mains. Details are in the SBI PO prelims vs mains post and the individual exam guides; confirm the current split in your notification. Wherever it sits, English is also the section where a candidate can hold a stable score if the grammar basics are solid, because it does not depend on calculation speed.

Part 1: Error spotting

The usual format gives a sentence split into parts, and you pick the part with an error (or "no error"). The trick is to stop reading for meaning. The examiner writes sentences that sound fine. Check structure, one rule at a time.

Trap 1: the subject is not the nearest noun

The quality of the mangoes sent by the suppliers (A) / were so poor (B) / that the shopkeeper returned (C) / the entire lot. (D)

The verb "were" sits next to "suppliers" and "mangoes", both plural, so it sounds right. But the subject is "quality". Error in B: "was so poor".

Habit: find the verb, then ask "who or what is doing this?" Strip out every phrase beginning with "of", "with", "along with", "as well as", "together with", "in addition to".

The manager, along with his two assistants, (A) / have been called (B) / to the regional office (C) / for a review. (D)

Subject "the manager" is singular; "along with his two assistants" does not make it plural. Error in B: "has been called".

Trap 2: "one of", "each of", "every", "neither of"

Each of the candidates who appeared for the interview (A) / were asked to bring (B) / two passport-size photographs (C) / and a valid ID. (D)

"Each" takes a singular verb. Error in B: "was asked".

She is one of those officers who (A) / always completes (B) / their work before time. (C) / No error (D)

This one is the reverse trap. In "one of those officers who...", the relative pronoun "who" refers to "officers" (plural), so the verb should be "complete". Error in B. Many candidates mark "no error" here because "she... completes" sounds right.

Trap 3: fixed pairs

Some words come in pairs, and the exam swaps the second half.

No sooner had the train left the station (A) / when the passengers (B) / realised that their luggage (C) / was still on the platform. (D)

"No sooner" pairs with "than". Error in B: "than the passengers". Similarly "hardly / scarcely ... when", "not only ... but also", "either ... or", "neither ... nor", "such ... that", "so ... that", "lest ... should".

Trap 4: comparatives that take "to"

Ramesh is senior than me (A) / in the branch, (B) / but he still asks me (C) / for help with the software. (D)

Senior, junior, superior, inferior, prior, prefer take "to", not "than". Error in A: "senior to me".

Trap 5: double negatives and "unless"

Unless you do not submit (A) / the form before Friday, (B) / your application will not (C) / be processed. (D)

"Unless" already means "if not". Error in A: "Unless you submit".

Trap 6: words that do not take a preposition, or take a specific one

"Discuss about", "cope up with", "despite of", "return back", "ordered for" are common traps. The correct forms are "discuss", "cope with", "despite" (or "in spite of"), "return", "ordered".

Despite of the heavy rain, (A) / the branch opened on time (B) / and most customers (C) / were served by noon. (D)

Error in A: "Despite the heavy rain".

Trap 7: tense sequence

By the time the inspector arrived, (A) / the cashier already closes (B) / the cash counter (C) / and left for lunch. (D)

An action completed before another past action takes the past perfect. Error in B: "had already closed". The "and left" in D then shares "had": "had already closed... and left".

A routine for error spotting

1. Read the whole sentence once, quickly.
2. Find the main verb and its true subject.
3. Check for fixed pairs and prepositions.
4. Check tense against time words ("by the time", "since", "yesterday").
5. Only then decide on "no error". It is a legitimate answer, but it should be your last check, not your first instinct.

Part 2: The cloze test

A cloze test is a passage with blanks, each with four or five options. Many candidates treat it as a vocabulary test and fill each blank in isolation. It is closer to a reading test.

Read the passage before touching a blank

Spend 30 to 40 seconds reading the whole passage, skipping the blanks. Get the topic and the direction of the argument. Is the writer for something, against it, or describing a problem?

Worked example

Here is a short passage written for this post:

Small savings schemes have long been popular with households that prefer certainty over high returns. When interest rates on bank deposits fall, these schemes become relatively more (1), and inflows usually rise. However, the government revises their rates every quarter, so a saver who locks in today cannot (2) that the same rate will be offered next year. For a retired person who depends on a fixed monthly income, this (3) is a real concern.

Options for (1): (a) risky (b) attractive (c) expensive (d) volatile "Inflows usually rise" tells you people want them more. Only (b) fits.

Options for (2): (a) assume (b) deny (c) refuse (d) promise The saver cannot be sure. "Assume" fits the meaning; "promise" would need the government as subject. Answer (a).

Options for (3): (a) uncertainty (b) generosity (c) stability (d) penalty The previous sentence is about rates possibly changing. Answer (a). Note that "stability" is the opposite of the point, which is a common trap: an option that belongs to the topic but reverses the meaning.

Clues to look for

• Contrast words ("however", "but", "although", "yet") flip the direction. The blank after them often opposes what came before.
• Continuation words ("moreover", "also", "and", "similarly") keep the same direction.
• Grammar narrows choices fast: an article "an" before the blank needs a word starting with a vowel sound; a blank followed by "to" may need a verb that takes "to".
• Collocations: we "pay attention", "make a decision", "raise a concern". If an option does not collocate, drop it.

Part 3: Para jumbles

You get four to six sentences in random order and must find the logical sequence. Trying permutations in your head wastes time. Use a method.

Step 1: find the opener

The opening sentence usually introduces a subject without depending on anything earlier. It rarely starts with "this", "these", "he", "she", "it", "however", "therefore", "such", or "the" referring back to something not yet introduced.

Step 2: find pairs

Look for links: a pronoun and its noun, a "first... then" sequence, a question and its answer, a general statement and its example, a problem and its solution.

Step 3: find the closer

The last sentence often concludes, summarises or states a consequence ("as a result", "thus", "this is why").

Worked example

Sentences written for this post:

A. This is why many banks now send an alert for every transaction, however small. B. Digital payments have made it easy to move money in seconds. C. The same speed, however, also helps fraudsters, who can empty an account before the owner notices. D. An alert gives the customer a chance to block the card or account before the damage grows.

• Opener: B introduces the subject with no back-reference. A begins with "This", C with "The same speed", D refers to "an alert" that needs context. So B first.
• Pair: C's "the same speed" links to B's "in seconds". So B-C.
• A's "This is why" needs a problem before it: C's fraud. So C-A.
• D explains the benefit of the alert introduced in A. So A-D.

Order: B-C-A-D.

Check the sequence by reading it in order. If it reads like a short, coherent paragraph, you are right. If one sentence feels as if it came from nowhere, re-examine the pair you were least sure of.

Habits that cost marks

• Attempting reading comprehension first in prelims. It has the highest time cost per mark. Many candidates do grammar-based questions first and then the passage. See the time splits in the IBPS Clerk guide.
• Not marking "no error" when it is correct. If you have checked all five points and found nothing, trust the check.
• Guessing in para jumbles with no anchor. If you cannot find the opener or a single pair, skip. A wrong answer costs a quarter of a mark.
• Learning rules without applying them. Ten error-spotting questions a day, with every wrong answer written down by rule, is more useful than reading a grammar book cover to cover.

Practice

Keep a short error log with one line per mistake: the rule you missed and a sentence you write yourself that uses it correctly. Revise the log weekly. Free practice is available in the Daily Dangal and mini-mocks. Full sectional and full-length mocks are part of Pareeksha Pro (see pricing). Since full mocks are fixed papers, your English score is compared with everyone who sat the same passage and the same sentences, which tells you whether a 24 out of 40 was a strong day or a weak one.

FAQ

How many error-spotting rules do I need to know? A working set of 25 to 30 rules covers most questions: subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions, pronouns, comparatives, fixed pairs and a few commonly confused words.

Should I learn idioms and phrasal verbs? Yes, a manageable list. Phrasal verbs often appear in fillers and cloze tests. Learn them in sentences, not as a bare list.

Is "no error" often the correct answer? It is a real answer and does appear. Do not avoid it, but do not jump to it before checking the sentence systematically.

How long should a cloze test take? In prelims, aim for four to five minutes for a five- to seven-blank cloze. Spend the first 30 to 40 seconds reading the full passage.

What helps most with reading comprehension? Daily reading of an editorial, followed by one timed passage. Speed comes from regular reading over months, not from tricks.