Castilla y León PAU English: Coherence, Cohesion and Accuracy: Polishing the Text

Coherence and cohesion are marked separately from grammar in the PAU writing: coherence is the logical order of ideas; cohesion is the visible linking through pronouns, connectors and repeated key terms. Accuracy covers grammar, spelling and punctuation. This section is about the final edit, where candidates gain or lose the last few marks.

Coherence: order and unity

• One paragraph, one main idea. Start with a topic sentence, support it, and do not add a new topic in the last line.
• Order ideas by time (first, then, finally), cause (because, therefore) or contrast (however, on the other hand).
• Keep the same viewpoint and tense unless the timeline changes.

Cohesion: linking without over-linking

• Use pronouns to refer back: this decision, such measures, they.
• Use connectors precisely: however contrasts; therefore concludes; moreover adds; for instance exemplifies.
• Repeat key nouns instead of using an ambiguous it or this.
• Do not put a connector in every sentence; too many furthermore and besides feels mechanical.

Accuracy: high-frequency errors

• Subject-verb agreement: The number of students has risen; People are.
• Articles: a/an for a singular countable noun introduced for the first time; the for specific or shared reference; no article for general plurals.
• Tense consistency: a past narrative stays past; present perfect for a past action with present relevance.
• Punctuation: comma splice (I was tired, I went to bed) → I was tired, so I went to bed or a full stop.
• Spelling: -ing forms (making, travelling), double consonants, common confusions (their/there, its/it's).

Worked example

Draft: The city has opened a new bike lane. It is very good. Many people use it. It reduces traffic. Revision: The city has opened a new bike lane, which many residents now use. This measure reduces traffic and makes cycling safer. Reasoning: It is very good is vague and subjective; which many residents now use combines two short sentences and adds specific information. This measure refers back clearly, avoiding three bare its. The revision keeps the present perfect for the recent opening and the present simple for the current effect.

Traps

• Connectors with the wrong logic: although plus a result, so plus a contrast.
• Dangling references: This is important with no clear noun.
• Run-on sentences joined by commas.
• Switching from past to present in a narrative without a time signal.
• Informal contractions in a formal letter.