SBI PO Mains Exam: Marking Scheme for Essay and Letter Writing Section

Introduction:
The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the Probationary Officer (PO) Mains Exam to select candidates for the prestigious PO position. The exam consists of various sections, including an essay and letter writing section. In this section, candidates are required to write an essay and a letter on given topics. The marking scheme for this section is as follows:

Marking Scheme:

Essay Writing:
- The essay is generally evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
- Content: The essay should be well-structured and should address the given topic comprehensively. It should demonstrate a clear understanding of the subject matter.
- Language: The use of language should be appropriate, with proper grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. The essay should be coherent and cohesive.
- Organization: The essay should have a logical flow, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The ideas should be presented in a systematic manner.
- Creativity and Originality: The essay should reflect the candidate's creativity and original thinking. It should not be a mere reproduction of ideas from other sources.
- Length: The essay should be of the prescribed length, usually around 250-300 words.

- Each criterion is assigned a certain weightage, which may vary from exam to exam. For example:
- Content: 40 marks
- Language: 30 marks
- Organization: 20 marks
- Creativity and Originality: 10 marks

- The total marks for the essay may vary, but it is usually out of 100.

Letter Writing:
- The letter is also evaluated based on specific criteria:
- Format: The letter should follow the prescribed format, including the appropriate salutation, body, and closing.
- Language: The language should be formal and polite, with correct grammar and vocabulary.
- Clarity and Conciseness: The letter should effectively convey the intended message in a clear and concise manner.
- Coherence: The ideas in the letter should be well-organized and logically connected.
- Length: The letter should be of the prescribed length, usually around 150-200 words.

- Each criterion is assigned a certain weightage, which again may vary from exam to exam. For example:
- Format: 10 marks
- Language: 30 marks
- Clarity and Conciseness: 30 marks
- Coherence: 20 marks
- Length: 10 marks

- The total marks for the letter may vary, but it is usually out of 100.

Conclusion:
The essay and letter writing section in the SBI PO Mains Exam is evaluated based on specific criteria related to content, language, organization, creativity, format, clarity, coherence, and length. Candidates are advised to carefully read and understand the given topics, and to plan their essays and letters accordingly. Practicing sample essays and letters can also help in improving writing skills and meeting the marking criteria.