Composition and Written Expression
Composition and Written Expression tests whether you can plan, organise, and revise a piece of writing so that it is clear, coherent, and suited to its reader.
Planning and structure
Decide on purpose, audience, and form before writing: a letter, report, story, or argument. A paragraph should have one topic sentence, supporting detail or examples, and a closing or linking sentence. A full piece needs an introduction, organised body paragraphs, and a conclusion that does not introduce new ideas.
Coherence and cohesion
Link sentences with transitions that show the relationship: however, therefore, in addition, for example, finally. Keep pronouns and tenses consistent. Repeat key terms rather than jumping between synonyms the reader cannot follow.
Register and tone
Match language to audience. Formal writing avoids slang, contractions, and vague words such as stuff or a lot of; informal writing can be direct. Keep tone consistent: do not slip from serious argument into jokes.
Conciseness and sentence variety
Cut redundant words: 'return back' → 'return'; 'in my opinion I think' → 'I think'. Combine short, choppy sentences and vary openings, but do not create run-ons. Use active voice unless the doer is unknown or unimportant.
Worked example
Original: 'The reason why the project failed was because the team did not plan properly and they also did not have enough time.' Revised: 'The project failed because the team did not plan properly and had too little time.' Reasoning: 'The reason why...was because' is redundant, so 'failed because' removes it. Deleting 'they also' and using 'had too little time' tightens the sentence without losing meaning.
Traps
Answering a different prompt; writing a list of points with no links; forgetting the audience in a letter; and leaving errors in spelling, punctuation, or tense during editing.