Guidelines for O' Level English Language Paper 1 (Writing)

Common Errors in English Language Paper 1 (Writing)

Section 1 (Directed Writing)

· The questions are not read properly and answered inappropriately.

· Improper formats are used.

· Improper beginning. (In letter despite the given instructions to start from ‘ Dear

      Principal’, the address is given.)

· Improper beginning or ending. (Despite the given instructions to end properly, the directed

      writing is not ending with the sign, full name and date.)

· Subject or Headline is not written.

· Introduction is missing and composition has started directly from description of content  

    points. Though the given situation should be reiterated in the introduction.

· Yours faithfully is used to end a letter to Principal. Though it is used for the recipient who    

         is not known.

· Use of informal tone in formal essay.

· Content points are not justified

· Only one or two content points are focused and elaborated properly.

· Pronoun ‘I’ is used when the whole class was to be represented.

· The given options are misunderstood and missed out in elaboration. For instance, barbeque   

         and movie was a single option yet in some cases, one of it was discussed only.

Section 2 (Creative Writing)

· Rubrics are not followed and question has not been started from a fresh page.

· Topic number is not mentioned or wrongly written.

· Plan is not made or is too brief.

· Rough work or plan is not cross out.

· Topics are not addressed properly. Relevance to the theme is not maintained.

· Coherence is missing.

· The given sentence/ dialogue is not used in the story.

· The given beginning is not used or used in the middle or end.

· In some of the cases own titles are given for the essays.

· Selection of lexis is inappropriate for the topic.

· Ambitious vocabulary is aimed with out understanding its correct usage or are spelt   

    wrongly.

· Weak plot is crafted, with no action or adventure.

· Lack of imagery or expressions in descriptive and narrative essay.

· Lack of supportive arguments in argumentative essay.

· Facts and figures missing to justify the given case in argumentative essay.

· Beginning and Endings are quite stereotype and in some cases irrelevant. For instance, most

    of the narratives start from description of morning scene.

· Traces of copied material in the composition or plots of movies or famous novels are used.

· Illegible Writing or untidy presentation.

· No paragraphs are made.

· Less use of linking words.

· Dialogues are not written separately or in inverted commas.

· Tenses consistency is not maintained. For instance: Narrative essay should be written in 

      past tense.

· Word limit has been exceeded, resulting in monotony and recurrent grammatical and          

    spelling errors.

· The difference between ‘there’ and ‘their’ is not understood.

· There is no expression like ‘according to me’. As far as I am concerned can be used.

· With the expression “one of the” plural noun should be used. One of my

      friends/ family members.

· Object is used in place of subject. For instance: Me entered the room in hurry. Here ‘I’   

    should be written.

· Preference should be given to others. For Instance: Instead of writing, ‘I and my class’  

      mates, ‘My classmates and I’ should be used.