Rescuing an Overlength Opinion Essay in Ten Minutes
A candidate has 30 minutes to write a 180-220 word opinion essay. The prompt is: 'Some universities require students to study a subject outside their main field. To what extent do you agree?' After 20 minutes the candidate has written 265 words: an introduction with the thesis 'I agree because it is good', two body paragraphs with generic examples, no counterargument, and a conclusion that repeats the introduction. Ten minutes remain. There are two spelling errors and one 48-word sentence. The candidate's plan includes a counterargument and a specific example about a computer-science student taking a linguistics course, but neither appears in the draft. The candidate must decide whether to cut, revise the thesis, add the counterargument, or leave the length over the limit. The exam penalises responses outside the word range and rewards a clear position addressing 'to what extent'.
1. What is the highest-value ten-minute revision plan? Rank the actions and justify the order.
Read the worked answer
Rank: (1) rewrite the thesis, (2) cut 45 words, (3) add one concession sentence, (4) fix spelling and the long sentence, (5) final word count.
- Thesis first (about 2 minutes). 'I agree because it is good' does not answer 'to what extent' and gives no reason. Task response is the biggest scoring lever, and a weak thesis affects the whole essay.
- Cut to the range (about 4 minutes). At 265 words the essay is outside 180-220. Remove repetition and generic filler rather than the specific example. Target about 215 words, not exactly 220, to leave a margin.
- Add one concession (about 2 minutes). A single sentence acknowledging the cost of outside-field study makes the position more nuanced and directly answers 'to what extent'.
- Fix the two spelling errors and split the 48-word sentence (about 1 minute). These are quick accuracy gains.
- Check word count (about 1 minute). Do not add a new example at this stage; a half-developed new point creates more risk than it removes.
2. Rewrite the thesis so it answers 'to what extent' and includes a concession. Then explain why the rewrite is stronger.
Read the worked answer
Rewrite: 'While requiring an outside-field course can reduce time for specialist depth, I largely agree that universities should impose it, provided the course is introductory and assessed fairly.'
Why it is stronger:
- It answers 'to what extent' with 'largely agree', not a flat 'I agree'. The examiner can see a qualified position.
- It includes a concession ('can reduce time for specialist depth') before the main claim. This is not a contradiction; it shows the writer has weighed the trade-off.
- It adds a condition ('provided the course is introductory and assessed fairly'), which gives the body paragraphs a clear job: explain the benefit and show why the condition manages the risk.
- It replaces 'because it is good' with a defensible rationale. 'Good' is an evaluation, not a reason; the rewrite states what is good about the requirement and under what limits.
The original thesis is not just short; it is unresponsive. A longer but still vague thesis would also be weak. The gain comes from qualification and specificity, not from adding words.
3. How should the candidate cut about 45 words without losing the argument? Give a concrete cut-and-keep strategy.
Read the worked answer
Cut repetition and generic framing; keep the specific example and the concession.
Concrete strategy:
- Delete generic opening sentences such as 'In today's world, education is very important' or 'This essay will discuss both sides.' They add no content and are common sources of overlength.
- Merge two short sentences that repeat the same idea: 'Outside subjects are useful. They help students learn more.' -> 'Outside subjects help students learn more.'
- Remove the conclusion's verbatim repetition of the introduction. Replace it with one sentence that states the qualified position and one condition.
- Keep the computer-science student taking linguistics: a specific example is worth more than several generic claims. If the example is not yet in the draft, insert it only after cutting enough space.
- Do not cut the concession sentence; it is doing task-response work.
The target is about 215 words, not the bare minimum. A small buffer protects against a miscount, and a slightly shorter essay with a clear position beats an overlength essay with a vague one.