Written Expression and Composition
What is marked
Composition questions are marked on four things: relevance to the topic, clear organisation, correct language, and appropriate vocabulary. A simple, accurate essay scores higher than an ambitious one full of errors.
Planning in three minutes
Before writing, jot a one-line plan: an opening sentence that states the topic, three body paragraphs each with one main idea, and a closing sentence. For a letter, fix the format first - sender's address, date, salutation, body, closing, signature. Format marks are easy to earn and easy to lose.
Paragraph discipline
One idea per paragraph. Begin with a topic sentence, support it with an example or reason, and close with a linking sentence. Use linking words - firstly, moreover, however, therefore, in conclusion - to show the reader the structure.
Language traps
- Run-on sentences: join clauses with a full stop or a conjunction, not a comma alone.
- Tense drift: choose past or present and keep it.
- Repetition: do not start every sentence with "I think" or "There is".
- Overwriting: long words used wrongly cost more than they earn.
Worked example
Topic: "The value of discipline in a student's life." Opening: Discipline is the bridge between a goal and its achievement. Body: punctuality, study routine, respect for rules, each with one concrete example. Closing: A disciplined student does not merely pass examinations; he builds a character that lasts. This is short, structured and error-light.
Rule of thumb
Spend the last three minutes checking spelling, capital letters, full stops and verb agreement. Correcting five small errors is often worth more than one extra sentence.