IFSCA Grade A 2025 English Preparation Strategy, Toppers Tips for Success

Are you ready to test your English language skills in the IFSCA Grade A exam on 11th October 2025? If not, you still have 20 days to be prepared to showcase your preparation. Now, when time is slipping out of your hands, you need to prepare and revise smartly in these last days. Plus, you cannot afford mistakes. You cannot waste time chasing new books or irrelevant material. Revision, at this stage, is requisite. So, you should pay heed to what you already know. It’s time to polish your skills and get rid of your weaknesses. English is one such area that can lift your score quickly. In this blog, we’ll share an effective strategy to prepare for English in the next 20 days. We’ll also discuss six practical tips, based on what toppers have done in the past to maximize their score. Along with tips, we’ll discuss how to best utilize free and paid resources to escalate your preparation.

IFSCA Grade A Preparation Strategy For English Section

English in IFSCA Grade A has two sides. In Phase 1, it is a multiple-choice paper. In Phase 2, it is descriptive. Phase 1, Paper 1 will test your knowledge on English topics like Grammar, Comprehension, Vocabulary, Para-jumbles, Error Spotting, etc. Phase 2 will test your Descriptive English skills, wherein you’ll have to write an Essay, a Precis, and deal with a Comprehension. Both tests demand different skills. But both need preparation simultaneously.

This is because Phase 1 will be on 11th October 2025 and Phase 2 is on 15th November 2025, as per the official notification. That’s just 35 days apart, and that’s too short a gap. That’s why you cannot prepare in sequence. You must prepare Phase 1 and Phase 2 together.

That brings us to the best practical tips needed to prepare both general and descriptive English simultaneously.

6 Tips for Success in IFSCA Grade A English

The Phase I, English Language section attracts 25 English questions. Each question is worth 1 mark. It is a part of Paper 1, which has 60 minutes. It also has a 30% sectional cut-off. So, you should give around 12–15 minutes to answer English questions. Attempt all questions smartly, leave the ones that waste your time. Take PracticeMock’s mock tests to get trained in answering such questions quickly and accurately and meet the cut-off.

The Phase II, Descriptive English part, attracts English questions in three parts: Precis (35), Essay (30), and Comprehension (35). The total time given to write the paper is 60 minutes. You can give 20 minutes to each part. Here also, the Cut-off is 30%. To master this section, you must train your brain to write clearly and crisply. Take Mock Tests to accomplish this aim.

So, you shouldn’t wait for Phase 1 to end before you start Phase 2 English preparation. If you do, you’ll run out of time. So, you should focus on practice, revision, and work on descriptive writing side by side.

Here are six practical tips that are simple yet powerful to follow for the next 20 days:

1. Expand Your Vocabulary Arsenal

Vocabulary is the building block of English, as they say. In this exam, you’ll see synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and phrases. You cannot guess these. You must know them. So, to build word power, you’ll have to invest 15 to 20 minutes daily in revising words and learn new words. But don’t try to learn 200 new words now. Instead, revise the words you already know. Repetition is the mother of retention.

You should also go for vocabulary quizzes. Solve them in free time. They are short and effective and thus make revision easier. And, you’ll feel confident when you see the same words in the exam. Keep in mind that vocabulary is not just for Phase 1. It helps in Phase 2 descriptive writing, too.

In short, the better your vocabulary, the better your essays and precis will look.

2. Dive into the Grammar Rules Pool

Grammar is the backbone of English. Nobody can deny that. The exam will test you in error spotting, sentence correction, and fillers. You can only score here if your basics are clear.

At this point, don’t open new grammar books.

Focus on core rules like:

• Subject-verb agreement
• Tenses
• Articles
• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

To master the basics, you should practice small exercises and solve short quizzes.

Grammar is also important in descriptive writing. Wrong grammar in an essay reduces marks. Even if your content is good, errors create a poor impression. So, accuracy matters.

PracticeMock’s topic tests on English will help you test your grammar skills. They are timed and mimic the exam pattern to give you the real feel of the exam. Use them to train your eye for spotting errors quickly.

3. Emphasize Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension carries weight. It checks two things: speed and understanding. Many students waste time reading passages again and again. That reduces the number of attempts.

The solution is practice. Read at least two passages daily. Try to find the main idea quickly and make a note of the keywords. But don’t get stuck on one line. Time yourself by giving 8 to 10 minutes per passage. Then check your answers. See where you went wrong. Did you miss the main point? Or did you misread the question?

PracticeMock’s RC tests follow the latest pattern. Use them. They save time and show you the type of passages expected in the exam. The preparation for RC also helps in preparing for the descriptive paper. The more you read, the more ideas you gather. This improves your essay content.

4. Polish Your Precis Writing Techniques

Precis writing comes in Phase 2. But you cannot wait until then. Start now. Precis means writing the same idea in fewer words or concisely. Without losing meaning. It is not easy. It demands clarity. Pick an editorial or article. Write it in one-third length. Use simple words. Avoid examples and explanations. Keep the main point intact.

Do this every day. Write one precis daily. In 20 days, you’ll get better. Your writing will become clear and sharp. Practicing ‘Precis’ writing also trains your brain by teaching you to focus on key points. Interestingly, that skill will also help in Phase 1, when you solve comprehension questions under time pressure.

5. Refine Your Essay Writing Ability

Essays are a major part of Phase 2. They test your knowledge, clarity, and structure. So, dear, don’t wait till November and start writing now. Choose topics on finance, economy, or current affairs. Write one essay every two days and keep it short, about 250 to 300 words.

Follow structure: introduction, body, conclusion. Stay on the point and don’t write unrelated details. Avoid long sentences. After writing, read your essay aloud. Check out the errors and mistakes you committed (if any). Ask yourself, does it flow? Is the idea clear? If not, rewrite.

You won’t have time to learn essay writing later with only a month between Phase 1 and Phase 2. Build the habit now.

6. Keep Testing Your Knowledge & Efficiency via Mock Tests Regularly

This is the most important tip. Mock tests prepare you for the real exam. They train your brain for speed and accuracy.

PracticeMock offers:

• IFSCA Grade A Phase 1 Paper 1 Test Series (5 mocks)
• IFSCA Grade A Phase 1 Paper 2 Test Series (5 mocks).

Take a free mock test today, eye your score, and check where you stand. Then plan your revision around your weak areas.

Mock tests also reduce exam fear. The real exam feels familiar after practicing the pattern of these tests. They are specifically designed to boost your confidence. You only have to do is, after taking every mock test, to analyse it.

By analysing, we don’t mean you should just see the score, but properly check each wrong answer. Why did you make the mistake? Revise the concept behind the wrong question. This cycle of test, analyze, and revise is the fastest way to improve.

Important Topics of English for IFSCA Grade A Exam Based on Past Year Records

The English section is always a mix of vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. Past year papers show a clear trend. Some topics come again and again with higher weightage. Knowing these topics helps you revise smartly in the last few days and maximize your score.

Let’s shed some light on important topics and their weightage to understand their importance better:

• Reading Comprehension invites 8 to 10 questions.
• Error Detection or Sentence Correction entices 5 to 7 questions.
• Fill in the Blanks draws 3 to 4 questions.
• Para Jumbles or Sentence Rearrangement welcome 4 to 5 questions.
• Cloze Test attracts 5 to 6 questions.
• Synonyms & Antonyms bring in 2 to 3 questions.
• Idioms & Phrases find their way in the form of 2 to 3 questions.
• Word Usage or Word Replacement gives space to 2 to 3 questions.

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Takeaway

English can be your strength in IFSCA Grade A 2025. You don’t need new books now. You need dedicated practice and revision. Mock Tests help you do that. Follow the six tips daily. Revise words. Revise grammar. Read passages, write precis and essays.

Take free topic-wise tests on PracticeMock. Use the feedback to know your level. The earlier you start, the better your chances. Don’t forget that smart preparation is about balance. Don’t overfocus on one area. Divide time between vocabulary, grammar, RC, precis, and essays, and practice daily.

In 20 days, you can improve a lot. Don’t forget that small efforts daily lead to humongous results. You just need to be regular, attentive, dedicated, and success will be at your feet.

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