Writing
What this section tests
Writing evaluates whether you can produce clear, organised, accurate English for a defined purpose and reader. Core concepts: task achievement (answering every part of the prompt), coherence and cohesion (logical paragraphing plus linking devices), lexical range and precision, grammatical range and accuracy, register and tone, and conventions (spelling, punctuation, capitalisation).
Traps to expect
- Ignoring part of the prompt - a common cause of low scores even with good English.
- Overusing linkers (Moreover, Furthermore, In addition in every sentence) instead of natural cohesion.
- Memorised openers that do not fit the task.
- Informal contractions and slang in formal writing.
- One giant paragraph with no clear topic sentences.
- Comma splices joining two independent clauses without a conjunction.
Worked example
Prompt: "Write an email to a colleague explaining a delayed deadline and proposing a new date." A strong answer opens with purpose ("I'm writing to update you on the report timeline"), states the reason briefly, proposes a specific new date, and closes politely. It avoids vague phrases like "things are delayed" and gives the reader a clear action.
Rule of thumb
Plan for two minutes, then write to a structure. Use one idea per paragraph, a topic sentence first, and a linking word only when the logical relationship truly exists. Reserve the final two minutes to check subject-verb agreement, articles, and plurals - the highest-frequency errors.
Practice habit
Write a 120-word response to a timed prompt weekly, then self-check against a checklist: task covered, paragraphs clear, three complex sentences, no repeated words.