SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 2 Preparation: How to Practise the Descriptive Papers 

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 preparation starts with one fact: every candidate writes a typed descriptive paper. Paper 1 is an English descriptive paper common to all streams. It carries one third of the Phase 2 aggregate, and it has its own minimum cut-off. 

This guide explains the paper as SEBI describes it and shows what the stream-specific descriptive papers look like. It then explains how to practise, so the keyboard never costs you marks. Every figure comes from SEBI’s 2025 documents, so check the 2026 notification before you plan. 

Read the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 paper formats first 

SEBI’s 2025 notification and its Phase II handout describe two papers. Paper 1 is common to all streams. Paper 2 depends on the stream you applied for. 

Know the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 cut-offs and weightage 

To reach the interview, the handout says you need at least 30% in Paper 1 and 40% in Paper 2. You also need an aggregate of 50% across both papers. Paper 1 carries a weight of one third, and Paper 2 carries two thirds. 

SEBI shortlists candidates equal to three times the number of vacancies, in order of merit. In the final result, Phase II carries 85% and the interview carries 15%. Paper 1 is English only, so every candidate faces the same language test. 

The objective papers (General, Engineering and Legal Part A) carry a penalty. SEBI deducts one fourth of the marks of a question for each wrong answer. Descriptive answers lose marks differently: through weak content, poor structure and slow typing. 

Use the cut-offs to set your targets. Aim well above 30% in Paper 1, so one bad day does not end your attempt. Compare every typed mock score with that line. 

Plan your time for SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Paper 1 

Paper 1 has three questions in 60 minutes, so time is as much of a skill as language. The marks split shows where to spend it: comprehension carries 40, essay 30 and precis 30. 

A balanced starting split of the hour helps. Take a short planning pause, then attempt comprehension, precis and essay in the order you work fastest. This split is a practice suggestion, not a SEBI rule. Adjust it after your first few timed attempts. 

Track your time per question in every timed attempt. If one question regularly runs over, shorten your planning pause or trim your essay introduction. Small timing fixes can add marks faster than extra reading. 

Practise the Essay, Precis and Comprehension Questions 

Each Paper 1 question rewards a different skill. Practise them separately before you combine them in a timed paper. 

• Essay (30 marks): Practise a clear structure with an introduction, two or three developed points and a short conclusion. Choose topics from economy, finance, regulation and current affairs, which are the areas SEBI work touches. 

• Precis (30 marks): Practise cutting a passage down to its core points in your own words. Count words and check that you kept the central argument. 

• Comprehension (40 marks): This is the largest block, so read the questions first, then the passage. Answer in complete, precise sentences. 

Keep a list of reusable essay frames for economy and regulation topics. Build each frame from a definition, the current position, a challenge and a way forward. Frames speed up planning, but fresh examples keep your essay from sounding generic. 

Practise Typing for SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Descriptive Answers 

You type descriptive answers in Phase 2, and the handout gives rules worth practising for: 

• Questions appear on screen one at a time, and you type your answers in the box. 

• Pressing space and then Enter does not move the cursor to a new line. Pressing Enter immediately after the last word does. Repeated space or Enter presses register as a single keystroke. 

• Paper 1 is in English. In the stream-specific descriptive papers (Legal, Research, Official Language), you answer in English or Hindi as each question requires. 

• Candidates who answer in Hindi must know the Inscript or Remington (GAIL) keyboard layout. The on-screen keyboard shows English only. 

• A language selection panel lets you switch between Hindi and English. SEBI says not to click Exit at any point during the exam. 

The practical lesson is to practise on a keyboard from the first week. Writing by hand and typing later makes the paper feel slower than it is. Practise with the layout you plan to use on exam day. 

Follow a SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Practice Routine That Mirrors the Exam 

• Week one: baseline. Attempt one full Paper 1 under a 60 minute timer, typed, with no notes. Note which of the three questions ran over time. 

• Daily: one short typed answer. Rotate between an essay outline, a precis of a news editorial and a comprehension passage. Keep every answer in a file, so you can compare month by month. 

• Weekly: one full timed paper. Treat it as a test, not practice. Review it after a day, when your own mistakes are easier to see. 

• Get feedback outside your own head. Descriptive writing improves fastest when someone else marks it. The ixamBee SEBI Grade A course lists five descriptive English mock tests with evaluation and feedback. The course page has a free demo, so you can see the format before paying. 

• Practise the stream paper separately. If your Paper 2 is descriptive (Legal, Research or Official Language), keep a second routine for it. If it is objective, use the Phase 2 Paper 2 previous year page and the free SEBI Grade A mocks. Both help with timing and penalty management. 

Build a Weekly SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Writing Schedule 

A fixed weekly rhythm turns the routine into a habit. The table below suggests one way to arrange it. It is a practice suggestion, not a SEBI rule, so shift the days to fit your work or study hours. 

 
If you work full time, move the full paper to a weekend morning and keep weekday answers short. Ten focused minutes with a timer beat an hour of unfocused writing. 

Prepare for the Stream-Specific Descriptive Papers 

Paper 2 turns descriptive in three streams. Each stream needs a different kind of practice. 

• Legal: Part A has 70 MCQs, and Part B has three descriptive questions of 10 marks each. Each part gets 60 minutes. Practise short, structured legal answers. 

• Research: The paper has five descriptive questions across Financial Markets, Economics and Statistics, in 120 minutes. Practise definitions, reasoning and data-backed points. 

• Official Language: The paper has eight descriptive translation items, in English and Hindi, in 90 minutes. Practise translating between English and Hindi, and practise Hindi typing. 

Whatever your stream, use the terminology of the subject. Generic language reads weak next to precise terms. Keep a glossary of key terms, and use them in every practice answer. 

Avoid Common Mistakes in SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Preparation 

Most lost marks come from habits, not from lack of knowledge. Watch for these seven. 

• Treating Paper 1 as an afterthought, then falling below the 30% cut-off while Paper 2 scores stay strong. 

• Never typing under a timer, then losing minutes to formatting and line breaks. 

• Writing a precis that repeats sentences from the passage instead of condensing it. 

• Answering stream-specific descriptive questions in generic language instead of subject terminology. 

• Practising only your favourite question type and skipping the weak ones. 

• Skipping a review after each timed paper, so the same errors return. 

• Leaving Hindi typing practice until the final week, if you plan to write your answers in Hindi. 

Use the Right Pages for Stream Choice and Costs 

For stream choice and eligibility, see the SEBI Grade A exam page and the eligibility criteria page. The stream pages for IT and Legal add detail. 

If you are working out what to pay for in your preparation, read SEBI Grade A preparation on a budget. If you want one-to-one input on your answers and plan, see how to choose a mentor. 

SEBI Grade A Phase 2 preparation FAQs 

Is SEBI Grade A Phase 2 descriptive for all streams? 

Paper 1 is. It is an English descriptive paper common to all streams, with Essay, Precis and Comprehension. Paper 2 depends on the stream. General, IT and Engineering use MCQs. Research and Official Language are descriptive, and Legal has an MCQ part and a descriptive part. 

What are the marks and time for SEBI Grade A Paper 1? 

The paper has 100 marks in 60 minutes, with three questions: Essay for 30 marks, Precis for 30 marks and Comprehension for 40 marks. The minimum cut-off is 30%, and the paper carries one third of the aggregate. 

What is the cut-off to reach the interview? 

The handout lists 30% in Paper 1, 40% in Paper 2 and an aggregate of 50% across both. The weights are one third and two thirds. SEBI shortlists candidates equal to three times the number of vacancies, in order of merit. 

Do you type Phase 2 descriptive answers? 

Yes. You type answers on the keyboard. Hindi answers need the Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layout. 

How much does the interview count? 

The notification gives Phase II 85% and the interview 15% of the final score. For Legal, Engineering (Electrical) and Engineering (Civil), up to 3.75 of the interview marks reward relevant post-qualification experience. 

How should I split the 60 minutes in Paper 1? 

SEBI sets no split. A starting plan is a short planning pause, then comprehension, precis and essay in your fastest order. Adjust it after timed attempts. 

Also Read:

SEBI Grade A 2026 Preparation on a Budget: What to Pay For and What to Do Free 

NABARD Grade A 2026 Last Attempt at 29 or 32: A Result-Focused Plan While Working 

Best Coaching for NABARD Grade A 2026: How to Choose and Verify Track Record