Precis Writing is an essential component of the descriptive paper for a variety of competitive and government examinations in the English Language segment.

The RBI Grade B exam comprises four sections:

1. General Awareness
2. Quantitative Aptitude
3. Reasoning Ability
4. English Language

In this post, we will discuss how to write precis for RBI Grade B Exam. RBI Grade B exam has an English language section where students come across Reading comprehension and Precis writing.

Let’s understand how to attempt the precis segment, its rules and tips for scoring full marks on that section.

Precis Writing Rules for RBI Grade B exam

Rules of Precis Writing

Here are some rules outlined which will help you avoid mistakes while writing precis.

1. Take your time reading the comprehension.
2. Make a list of the most significant points.
3. Make a preliminary outline of the summary.
4. As much as possible, utilise simple and straightforward language.
5. Once all of the points have been covered, write the final summary.

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Characteristics of a Good Precis

An excellent precis consists of several components. Knowing the characteristics of an excellent precis is critical for candidates who have just begun their preparation for the upcoming RBI Grade B exam.

Some of the aspects that will assist you in writing a decent precis are discussed below:

Precis Length: Do not write a long precis. In most circumstances, the number of words must be around one-third of the total number of words in the passage or comprehension.

Readability: Make certain that the summary you write does not include overly sophisticated terminology or is difficult to comprehend.

Coherent: The precis must include all important terms with respect to the passage.

Title: The precis must have a title that fits best with the comprehension that is related to.

Precis must be in sync with the comprehension: Make sure that all details in the precis actually belong to the comprehension. Avoid writing anything beyond what is mentioned in the passage.

Precis Writing Tips for RBI Grade B Exam – Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s in Precis Writing

• To make the precis easier to read, start with the main point of the paragraph.
• Give the reader a clear notion of what they are about to read.
• Make a note of all the significant aspects as you read the paragraph and incorporate them in the precis.
• Follow the primary concept of the passage with the facts/improvement points/methods, etc., that were mentioned in the comprehension.
• Include all of the significant keywords and concepts from the paragraph.
• Keep track of the tenses you employ. Data relating to historical events must only be described in the past tense.
• There must be a connection between the information in the precis.

Don’ts in Precis Writing

• The precis must not be longer than the length of the section.
• Use simple vocabulary and avoid overcomplicating the precis.
• Avoid making assumptions or adding information to the precis based on your own ideas.
• Do not add your own thoughts or criticism to the comprehension.
• Abbreviations should be avoided.
• In the precis, do not include assertions in the question format.
• Don’t concentrate on any one thing for too long. Keep the information as exact as possible.

Sample Precis for RBI Grade B Exam

Comprehension Passage

Business cycles are dated according to when the direction of economic activity changes. The peak of the cycle refers to the last month before several key economic indicators—such as employment, output, and retail sales— begin to fall. The trough of the cycle refers to the last month before the same economic indicators begin to rise. Because key economic indicators often change direction at slightly different times, the dating of peaks and troughs is necessarily somewhat subjective. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is an independent research institution that dates the peaks and troughs of U.S. business cycles. Recent research has shown that the NBER’s reference dates for the period before World War I are not truly comparable with those for the modern era because they were determined using different methods and data. In many ways, the term “business cycle” is misleading. “Cycle” seems to imply that there is some regularity in the timing and duration of upswings and downswings in economic activity. The combination of expansions and recessions, the ebb and flow of economic activity, is called the business cycle. For describing the swings in economic activity, therefore, many modern economists prefer the term “short-run economic fluctuations” to “business cycle.”

Source – Article from Economic Library

Sample solution for Precis

Business cycles are determined by changes in the direction of economic activity. The peak of the cycle is the last month before numerous major economic indices such as employment, production, and sales begin to decline. The cycle’s trough is the last month before the same economic indicators begin to increase. The business cycle refers to the mix of booms and recessions or the ebb and flow of economic activity.

Precis Writing Tips for RBI Grade B exam

• For better comprehension, read the chapter at least twice.
• Continue to make a mental note of the essence or major idea in a few sentences.
• While reading the paragraph, underline and highlight the significant terms.
• Write the Précis several times. Please keep in mind that a Précis does not have to be summarised exactly line by line.
• The basic concept of the paragraph must be comprehended before summarising it in accordance with the requirements.
• Fill up the blanks with your own words. Keep this in mind.
• Always stick to the word limit. If no such restriction is specified, use one-third of the given paragraph.
• This portion, in particular, assesses your writing abilities. Avoid any form of grammatical or spelling mistakes.
• Practice mock tests and solve previous year papers to develop accuracy and efficiency in precis writing.