Descriptive Paper Guide: Essay, Letter and Precis Writing

Ask ten aspirants which part of a government exam they practise least, and most will say writing. Objective sections get timers, mocks and analysis. The descriptive paper gets a vague promise to "write something the week before". Yet this is the paper where a few well-organised paragraphs can add marks that no amount of extra reasoning practice will give you, because so few candidates prepare it properly.

This guide is built around the skill, not a single exam. You will learn the four formats (essay, letter or application, précis and report), how checkers tend to award marks, how to stay inside the word limit, how to write neatly on a pen-and-paper sheet, a time plan, a bank of linking phrases, three complete model answers and a weekly routine. Everything here is original practice material written for this post.

First, check whether your exam actually has a descriptive paper

Patterns have changed over the years, and sources disagree, so do not rely on old coaching notes. Here is the honest position as far as we could confirm it.

• SSC CGL: The separate Tier 3 descriptive paper (essay plus letter or application, 100 marks, 60 minutes, pen and paper) was part of older CGL cycles. Reports on the recent CGL notices describe Tier 1 and Tier 2 only, both computer-based. Always read the current notice before spending months on this.
• SSC CHSL: Older cycles had a descriptive paper (essay and letter or application) in pen-and-paper mode. Coverage of the recent cycle describes Tier 2 as an objective test plus a skill or typing test, but some websites still list a descriptive paper. Confirm in the latest notification.
• SSC CPO: Reported as objective-only, with Paper 2 being English Language and Comprehension in MCQ form. Writing practice helps your English but is not directly tested.
• SBI PO Mains: A descriptive test of English (letter writing and essay) of 50 marks in 30 minutes is reported, held online and typed.
• IBPS PO Mains: A typed descriptive test of 25 marks in 30 minutes is reported, and the exact task mix has been revised in recent cycles. Check the latest notification.
• RBI Grade B Phase 2 (and similar regulator exams): A 100-mark descriptive English paper of 90 minutes with essay, précis and comprehension is reported, typed online.
• State exams and judiciary or mains-style papers: Many state commissions still use handwritten essay, letter or précis papers. Pattern and word limits vary by commission.

The point: the skill is the same whether you handwrite or type. The surrounding rules (word limit, time, language, evaluation) come from your notification. This post tells you how to get good at the skill, and flags where you must check the latest rules.

How checkers score a descriptive answer

Commissions do not publish a marking rubric with exact weights, so nobody outside can give you a verified split. What is consistent across evaluation guidelines for English writing papers is the set of qualities examiners look for. Treat the table below as our planning model of those qualities, not an official breakup.

Quality	What the checker looks for	What loses marks
Relevance and content	Answers the exact topic; ideas are sensible and specific	Drifting to a memorised essay on a related topic
Organisation	Clear opening, logical paragraphs, a real conclusion	One long block; no conclusion; repeated points
Language accuracy	Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation	Tense errors, wrong prepositions, careless spellings
Expression	Simple, precise words; varied sentences	Showy vocabulary used wrongly; very long sentences
Format and word limit	Correct letter or application layout; length within limits	Missing subject line; far too short or far too long
Presentation	Legible, tidy, margins and paragraphs visible	Overwriting, cuttings, cramped lines

A useful way to think about it: an examiner may read a large stack of papers in one sitting. The paper that is easy to read, easy to follow and has few visible mistakes makes a good impression in the first thirty seconds. Everything in this guide aims at that.

The four formats and how to structure each

1. Essay

Typical essay word limits reported for these exams range from about 200-250 words in the shorter SSC-style papers to 300-400 words in regulator-level papers. Check your own notice. Use a five-part plan that scales up or down.

1. Opening (2-3 sentences): a definition, a short fact-free observation, or a clear statement of why the topic matters today. Avoid famous quotations unless you are sure of them.
2. Background or meaning (one short paragraph): what the issue is and how it affects ordinary people.
3. Main body (two to three paragraphs): causes, effects, current efforts, one paragraph per idea. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence.
4. Challenges and a balanced view: one paragraph acknowledging the other side or the real difficulties.
5. Way forward and conclusion (one paragraph): two or three practical steps, then a closing sentence that returns to the opening idea.

Do not invent statistics. A made-up number is worse than none, because a wrong figure is a visible error. Use general statements such as "a large share of" or "in many districts" unless you are certain of a fact.

2. Letter and application

Know the difference. A formal letter goes to an editor, an official or an organisation about a public issue or request. An application is a request for something specific, such as leave, a transfer or a certificate. An informal letter goes to a friend or relative and is rarely asked in competitive papers. Follow the format below.

• Sender's address and date (top right or left, as you were taught, but be consistent).
• Receiver's designation and address.
• Subject line in one clear phrase.
• Salutation: "Sir" or "Madam" for formal letters.
• Body: paragraph 1 states the purpose in the first two lines; paragraph 2 gives the facts and the problem; paragraph 3 states the request and thanks the reader.
• Subscription: "Yours faithfully" (when you do not know the name) or "Yours sincerely", then signature and name.

Important: if the question gives you a name or address, do not use your own real name. Use only what the question allows, or use a neutral sign-off such as "A concerned citizen" or the role given in the question. Check the instructions in your paper about using names and signatures, because some exams penalise revealing identity.

3. Précis

A précis is a shortened version of a passage in your own words, usually about one-third of the original length. It tests understanding and economy, not memory.

1. Read the passage twice. On the second read, underline the main idea and each supporting point.
2. Remove examples, repetition, quotations and decoration.
3. Write a rough version in your own words, in the third person and the past or present tense as appropriate. No opinions and no new information.
4. Count words, cut to the target, then give a short title if asked.
5. Check that the précis can be understood by someone who never read the passage.

Note: always check whether your paper expects a title and whether the word limit is exact or a range.

4. Report

A report describes an event or a situation factually. A newspaper-style report has a headline, a byline line (the reporter's role, not a real name), a dateline and place, and a body that answers who, what, when, where, why and how in the first paragraph. The next paragraphs add details, a statement from an authority (written as reported speech and not as an invented quotation from a real person) and the outcome. Use the past tense, the passive voice where natural, and a neutral tone.

Word-limit management

Limits are usually given as a range or as "about". Examiners rarely count every word, but they notice answers that are half the size or twice the size. Practise these habits.

• Know your own line count. Count the words in ten of your handwritten lines and take the average. If you write about 9-10 words a line, 250 words is about 25-28 lines. In the exam you can estimate length by lines, not by counting.
• Plan the paragraph budget. For a 250-word essay: opening 35, background 40, body 2 x 50, challenges 40, conclusion 35. Adjust, but stay close.
• If you run over: cut adjectives, repeated ideas and long examples, not your conclusion.
• If you run short: add one specific example or one practical suggestion, not filler.
• Do not write the word count at the end unless the paper asks you to.

Handwriting and presentation for pen-and-paper papers

Good handwriting is not about beauty. It is about legibility and consistency. You can improve both in a few weeks with deliberate practice.

• Size and spacing: medium-sized letters, a clear gap between words, and a line gap that keeps tall letters from touching the line above.
• Margins: leave a clean left margin and do not write to the very edge of the page.
• Paragraphs: start every paragraph on a new line with a small indent, or leave a blank line. Visible paragraphs signal organisation.
• Headings and underlining: title the essay in capitals if allowed. Underline only the title or format labels, not random words.
• Corrections: cross out with a single neat line. Avoid scribbling over words. Do not use correction fluid unless permitted.
• Pen: use a pen that does not smudge, carry a spare and practise with the same type you will use in the exam.
• Speed test: time yourself copying one paragraph. If your neat writing speed is below the pace your time plan needs, train speed first.

If your exam is typed, the same logic applies: clear paragraph breaks, no spelling mistakes (proofread in the last two minutes) and no long sentences that lose the grammar halfway.

A time plan you can adapt

These splits are our planning suggestions, not official timings. Adjust after a few timed attempts.

Paper style	Planning	Reading and planning	Writing	Review
60 minutes, essay and letter	Essay about 30, letter about 25	5 minutes for the essay outline, 3 for the letter	Essay 22, letter 20	2 minutes each
30 minutes, essay and letter (typed)	Essay about 17, letter about 11	2 minutes and 1 minute	Essay 13, letter 9	1 minute each
90 minutes, essay, précis, comprehension	Essay 35, précis 30, comprehension 20	5, 3 and 2 minutes	28, 23 and 15	2, 4 and 3 minutes

Start with the task you are most confident about if the paper allows any order, but clearly label each answer. Never leave the second task unattempted because the first one grew too long.

Vocabulary and linking phrases that actually help

You do not need difficult words. You need accurate ones and a handful of connectors that make your argument flow.

Linking phrases by purpose

• Adding: in addition, moreover, similarly, equally important.
• Contrasting: however, on the other hand, nevertheless, despite this.
• Cause and effect: as a result, consequently, this is why, owing to.
• Giving an example: for instance, a case in point, to illustrate.
• Sequencing: to begin with, subsequently, finally.
• Concluding: in short, on the whole, taking everything into account.

Useful vocabulary pairs (simple, accurate)

• problem: challenge, concern, obstacle
• help: support, assist, facilitate
• important: significant, vital, essential
• increase: rise, expand, grow steadily
• solve: address, resolve, tackle
• people: citizens, the public, communities

Learn five new words a week, but use only the ones you can spell and use correctly in a sentence. One wrongly used difficult word costs more than ten simple words ever gain.

Model answer 1: Essay (about 270 words)

Topic (practice): Water conservation is everyone's responsibility. Original model answer written for practice; note the five-part structure.

Water Conservation: A Duty of Every Citizen

Water is the one resource that no technology can replace and no money can manufacture. In India, where farms, factories and families all draw from the same limited supply, conserving water is no longer a choice for the thoughtful few. It is a duty that belongs to every citizen.

The need arises from a simple imbalance. Rainfall is concentrated in a few months, while demand continues all year. Wells and borewells are used faster than nature can refill them, and rivers carry the burden of both irrigation and city sewage. When a tap runs dry, the poorest households suffer first, and women and children often walk long distances to fetch water.

Several steps can reduce this pressure. Farmers can adopt drip and sprinkler irrigation and choose crops suited to local rainfall. Cities can repair leaking pipelines, reuse treated wastewater for gardens and construction, and make rainwater harvesting compulsory in new buildings. Households can fix dripping taps, avoid washing vehicles with running hoses and teach children not to waste water.

However, conservation faces real difficulties. Water is often priced too low to encourage care, and awareness campaigns fade quickly. Rules on groundwater extraction are hard to enforce, and responsibility is divided among many agencies. Without local participation, even good schemes remain on paper.

The way forward lies in cooperation. Village committees should manage tanks and ponds, schools should make water saving a daily habit, and governments should reward efficient use while punishing pollution. If every household saves a little and every institution plans wisely, the benefit will be shared by all. Water saved today is security earned for tomorrow.

Why this works: each paragraph has one job, the opening and closing connect, no invented statistics appear, and the sentences are short enough to write neatly by hand. The challenge paragraph shows balance.

Model answer 2: Application (about 170 words)

Task (practice): Write an application to the Municipal Commissioner requesting repair of street lights in your locality. Use a neutral name given in the question, here "Rohan Verma" as an imaginary example.

From,
Rohan Verma,
12, Gandhi Nagar,
(Name of City) - (PIN)
12 March 20XX

To,
The Municipal Commissioner,
(Name of City) Municipal Corporation,
(Name of City)

Subject: Request for urgent repair of non-working street lights in Gandhi Nagar

Sir,

I am a resident of Gandhi Nagar and write to bring to your attention that most street lights on our main lane have not been working for the past three weeks.

Because of the darkness, women, children and elderly people feel unsafe after sunset. Several residents have slipped on broken patches of road, and there is a risk of theft and accidents. A complaint was given to the local ward office, but no repair has been done so far.

I therefore request you to direct the concerned department to inspect the lane and repair or replace the faulty lights at the earliest. A regular maintenance schedule would also prevent such problems in future.

I shall be grateful for your kind and prompt action.

Yours faithfully,
Rohan Verma
(Resident, Gandhi Nagar)

Why this works: the subject line is specific, the purpose is clear in the first sentence, facts are separated from the request, and the tone is polite without pleading. Check the exam instructions on names: if the paper forbids a real name, use the role or the name given in the question.

Model answer 3: Précis with passage

Task (practice): Write a précis of the passage below in about one-third of its length (about 90 words) and give it a suitable title. The passage is original, written for practice (276 words).

Passage

Cities across the world are discovering that the cheapest way to reduce traffic is not to build more roads but to give people a reason to leave their cars at home. Wider roads attract more vehicles, and within a few years the new space is as crowded as the old. This pattern, which planners call induced demand, has been seen so often that many urban experts now treat road widening as short-term relief rather than a lasting cure. What works better is a reliable public transport network. When buses and trains arrive on time, are clean and reach the places people actually need to go, many commuters choose them willingly. Fares matter, but reliability matters more; a cheap bus that comes once an hour will always lose to a scooter. Cities must also make walking and cycling safe, with continuous footpaths and protected lanes, because most journeys in a city are short. Parking policy is the least popular but most effective tool. When street parking is free, the city is subsidising private vehicles with public land. Sensible charges, with the revenue spent on better buses and footpaths, nudge people towards cheaper options without forcing anyone. Critics argue that such measures hurt shopkeepers and the elderly. Experience in several cities suggests otherwise, since pedestrians tend to shop more often than drivers who park briefly, and accessible transit helps older people who cannot drive. The real obstacle is not money or technology but political will, because the benefits of reform arrive slowly while the complaints of those who lose free parking arrive at once. Cities that have succeeded began small, explained their reasons openly and showed results quickly.

Précis

Title: Reforming City Traffic

Building wider roads does not end congestion, because new space soon fills with more vehicles. Lasting relief comes from reliable, clean and well-connected public transport, safe routes for walking and cycling, and sensible parking charges whose revenue funds these improvements. Objections that such steps hurt shopkeepers and the elderly are not supported by experience in several cities. The main barrier is political will, since benefits come slowly while protests are immediate. Successful cities started small, communicated openly and delivered visible results early.

How it was done: the main idea (wider roads do not cure congestion) comes first. Supporting points (public transport, walking and cycling, parking charges) are grouped in one sentence. The objection and its answer take one sentence, the obstacle takes another, and the example of what worked closes the précis. Removed: the scooter comparison, the shopping detail, the phrase "induced demand" and all rhetorical flourishes. The précis is in the third person and adds no opinion.

A weekly practice routine

This plan assumes about 45-60 minutes a day, with one longer session on the weekend. It is a suggestion, so adjust it to your exam date and your current level.

Day	Task	Time
Monday	Read one editorial or feature from a newspaper. Write a three-line summary in your own words.	40 min
Tuesday	One timed essay of the exact word limit. Plan for 3 minutes before writing.	45 min
Wednesday	One formal letter or application, timed. Check the format against the checklist.	35 min
Thursday	One précis from a passage of 250-300 words. Compare with the passage for missed ideas.	40 min
Friday	Vocabulary and connectors: learn five words, write five sentences. Rewrite one old paragraph more clearly.	30 min
Saturday	Full timed descriptive paper in exam style (handwritten if your exam is pen and paper).	60-90 min
Sunday	Self-review: mark your Saturday answers using the table of qualities above. List your three most frequent errors and fix them.	45 min

Keep an "error notebook". Each week, write the mistakes you made (for example "a" versus "an", "affect" versus "effect", missing commas) and the correct form. After four weeks you will notice that the same five or six errors repeat, and fixing them lifts every answer.

Also, find a reader. A friend, teacher or study partner can tell you where your argument is unclear far better than you can. If no one is available, put an answer aside for a day and re-read it, which gives you a fresh eye.

How to self-check an answer in two minutes

1. Does the first paragraph tell the reader what the answer is about?
2. Is each paragraph about one idea?
3. Is there any sentence that repeats an earlier one? Delete it.
4. Check verbs: do tenses stay consistent inside a paragraph?
5. Check subject-verb agreement in the longest sentences.
6. Check the spelling of words you commonly get wrong.
7. Is the word count within range?
8. Is the conclusion a real conclusion, not a new idea?

Common errors and how to avoid them

• Memorised essays: Writing a ready-made essay on "pollution" when the topic is "plastic waste in rivers". Always narrow your content to the exact wording of the topic.
• No planning: Starting without an outline leads to repeated points and a missing conclusion. Spend the first few minutes on a four-line plan.
• Fake statistics and quotations: Do not invent figures or attribute lines to famous people. Use careful general statements.
• Wrong format: Missing subject line, wrong salutation or closing, writing "Dear Sir" in a style your exam does not expect. Learn one format and use it every time.
• Long sentences: They create grammar errors. Aim for sentences under 25 words.
• Common grammar traps: Article use (a, an, the), prepositions (discuss about is wrong; discuss the matter), uncountable nouns (advice, information, furniture are not pluralised) and tense shifts.
• Spelling slips: Words like "environment", "government", "necessary", "separate", "definitely", "occurred" are frequently misspelt. Add your own list.
• Précis mistakes: Copying whole sentences, adding opinions, leaving out the main idea or going far over the word limit.
• Tone problems in letters: Being rude to officials or too emotional. Be firm, factual and polite.
• Poor time use: Spending most of the time on the first task and rushing the second. Use a clock and stick to your plan.
• Untidy presentation: Overwriting, cutting and cramped lines make a good answer look weaker.

Topic bank for practice

These are practice topics, not actual questions from any exam. They cover themes that Indian descriptive papers have commonly drawn on: social issues, the economy, technology and governance.

Essay topics

• The role of digital payments in everyday life
• Banking access for small towns and villages
• Climate change and its effect on farmers
• Online learning: benefits and limits
• Road safety and personal responsibility
• The importance of financial literacy
• Women's participation in the workforce
• Waste management in cities
• Social media and young minds
• Public transport as a solution to urban congestion
• Importance of sports in national life
• Reading habit in the age of smartphones

Letter and application tasks

• Letter to an editor on garbage collection problems in your locality
• Application to a bank manager for a statement of account or a change of address
• Application for leave to your office superior
• Complaint to a company about a defective product
• Letter to a municipal official about stray animals on the road
• Letter to the editor suggesting a library in your area
• Application to a school principal for a character certificate
• Request letter to the electricity department about frequent power cuts

Report ideas

• A tree plantation drive in a neighbourhood
• A cultural fair in a school or college
• A road accident at a busy crossing
• A free health camp in a village

Using current affairs without risking facts

Examiners like essays that show awareness of the present, but a wrong fact damages your credibility. Follow these rules: mention schemes or policies only when you know their purpose well; describe what a scheme tries to do rather than quoting figures; and if you are not sure of a name or a year, use a general phrase such as "recent government initiatives". Read one editorial a day and note two or three ideas, not facts, that you can reuse across topics, such as inclusion, efficiency, accountability and sustainability.

What to do in the last week before the exam

• Take two full-length timed papers in exam conditions, with the same pen and paper style.
• Revise your formats: letter, application, report, précis steps.
• Re-read your error notebook daily.
• Revise your list of linking phrases and spellings.
• Practise three essay outlines in five minutes each, without writing the full essay.
• Sleep well. A rested mind writes cleaner sentences.

Frequently asked questions

Does SSC CGL still have a descriptive paper? Reports on recent notices describe SSC CGL as two computer-based tiers without a separate descriptive tier, though older cycles had one. Check the latest SSC notification for your year.

Is the SSC CHSL descriptive paper still held? Sources disagree about the latest cycle. Older cycles had a pen-and-paper essay and letter paper, while recent coverage describes Tier 2 as objective plus a skill or typing test. Confirm with the official notice.

What are the usual word limits? Older SSC-style papers reported about 200-250 words for the essay and 150-200 words for the letter or application, while regulator-level papers can ask for longer essays. Always follow the instructions printed on your paper or notification.

Is the descriptive paper only qualifying? It depends on the exam and the cycle. Some tests count towards merit and some are only checked after you clear objective cut-offs. Read the notification for your exam.

Can I write in Hindi? Some exams allow a choice of Hindi or English, but both answers must usually be in the same language. Check the language rule for your exam.

How many practice papers do I need? There is no fixed number. A reasonable target is about three or four weeks of regular writing, at least one full timed paper a week, with each answer reviewed for errors.

How can I improve my handwriting quickly? Practise a few lines every day at a steady speed, focus on spacing and consistent letter size, and avoid rushing. Neat and legible matters more than stylish.

Should I use difficult words to impress the examiner? No. Accurate simple words score better than wrongly used complex ones. Use a few strong words you are certain about.

Can I use quotations? Only if you are sure of the exact words and the speaker. A wrong quotation is an error. Most good essays do well without any.

How do I choose between two essay topics if a choice is given? Pick the one for which you can quickly list three points for and one challenge. Do not choose a topic only because it sounds impressive.

Final word

The descriptive paper rewards clear thinking, plain language and tidy presentation. None of that needs special talent, only regular practice and honest review. Build the habit now, practise full-length mocks and sectional tests on Pareeksha to keep your objective sections sharp, and use the weekly routine above to make your writing as dependable as your calculation speed.