Spelling, punctuation and accuracy of expression
What is checked
In the PAU, accuracy is assessed across the writing task and, indirectly, in the short answers. Errors that change meaning or break basic structures cost more than slips. Examiners look for correct verb forms and agreement, articles and prepositions, plural and possessive forms, spelling of common academic words, and punctuation that supports meaning.
High-frequency accuracy points
- Subject–verb agreement: "The number of students has risen"; "A number of students have complained."
- Articles: a/an/the or zero article; the environment, but society with no article when general.
- Prepositions in fixed phrases: depend on, interested in, responsible for, at the age of.
- Verb patterns: suggest + -ing, avoid + -ing, want + to, make + object + infinitive without to.
- Apostrophes: it's = it is/has; its = possessive. Do not use an apostrophe for plural nouns.
- Commas: after introductory clauses, around non-defining relative clauses, between items in a list; not between two full sentences.
Worked example
Incorrect: "Its important that the goverment doesnt ignore this issue." Corrected: "It's important that the government doesn't ignore this issue." Reasoning: its needs the apostrophe for it is; government has a double n; doesn't needs the apostrophe for the contraction of does not; the sentence begins with a capital letter.
Spelling and punctuation traps
- Common misspellings: because, receive, necessary, environment, accommodation, government, development, responsibility.
- Homophones: their/there/they're; your/you're; then/than; effect/affect.
- Comma splice: "The plan is good, it is expensive" → "The plan is good, but it is expensive" or a full stop.
- Sentence fragments after a full stop: "Because the cost was high."
- Double negatives: "I don't know nothing" → "I don't know anything."
- Capital letters for days, months, languages and nationalities, but not for seasons.
Checking routine
Read the composition once for content and once backwards for form: check each verb, each plural and each apostrophe. This catches errors that meaning-focused reading skips.