Writing: Structure, Register, and Control
Writing assesses whether you can organize ideas, sustain a clear purpose, and control grammar and vocabulary across sentences. Examiners reward coherence and accuracy over ambitious but broken complexity.
Concepts to master
- Task response: answer every part of the prompt, with a clear position or purpose.
- Organization: introduction, logically ordered body paragraphs, conclusion; one central idea per paragraph.
- Cohesion: linking words used accurately ("however," "therefore," "in contrast"), not sprinkled mechanically.
- Register: formal vs. informal consistency; avoid slang in academic tasks.
- Range and accuracy: varied sentence structures with controlled errors; precise, appropriate vocabulary.
Traps to expect
- Memorized openings that don't fit the specific prompt.
- Listing without development - claims with no explanation or example.
- Overuse of linkers at the start of every sentence, which reads mechanical.
- Register slips: contractions and colloquialisms in formal writing.
- Ignoring part of the question, such as omitting a required opinion or comparison.
Rule of thumb
Before writing, spend two minutes planning: state your position in one sentence, list two or three supporting reasons, and assign one paragraph to each. Then write a topic sentence per paragraph and develop it with an explanation and a concrete example. Proofread the final minutes for agreement, tense consistency, and articles - the errors most easily fixed.
Worked example
A weak body paragraph: "Technology is good. It helps people. Many people use it." A strong version keeps the same idea but adds a controlling claim, a reason, and an example: "Technology improves access to education because it lets students in remote areas attend courses online; a student without a local university can now complete a degree remotely."