Tips For Scoring

High Marks
Here are the tips on how to write a good essay, based on each criterion:

1) Hardly any mistakes in grammar (including spelling and punctuation)

Good essays should be without any major grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. So,
focus on these key aspects. Make sure that you know the grammar rules well and apply them
when you write.

2) Effective use of varied sentence structures

Many students face problems with the sentence structure of the English language. The
problem can be solved through plenty of reading. When you read, your mind is fed with the
correct sentence structures over and over. In time, you will be able to write sentences with
the right structure. When you write an essay, use a variety of sentences - simple, compound,
complex sentences, in both the active voice and passive voice, etc. Thus, it is advisable to make
good use of as much variety of reading material as possible - storybooks, magazines,
newspapers, etc. to expose yourself to different types of sentence structures.

3) Wide vocabulary used expressively/precisely

Reading helps to increase your vocabulary. When you see a new word, look it up in a dictionary
to learn its meaning. To score high marks, you need to show that you have a wide vocabulary.
For example, you can use 'delighted' or 'overjoyed' instead of 'happy'. Instead of using 'sad', use
'upset' or 'downhearted'. Try not to use the same word repeatedly. Use different words with
the same meaning to impress the examiner. It is also important that you use a word
precisely or accurately. Wrong use of words will result in mark deduction. So, make sure that a
word is suitable to be used in a sentence or a particular situation before using it. Reading helps
you understand the meaning of a word accurately. When you read extensively, you tend to be
familiar with words and know when to use them and when not to. Look it up in a dictionary
again when you forget the meaning of a particular word.

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4) Good and relevant points

When writing an essay, it is important to write about relevant points, or write about what the
question ask for. For example, for the title 'Describe an outing with your friends', the whole
essay should be about the outing. If you write about other things such as your friends'
hobbies, that would be irrelevant. As long as you understand the title and write relevant
points, you will be safe. The lack of points or ideas is a common problem faced by students
when writing essays. Reading model essays helps a lot, since it gives you plenty of ideas.

5) Coherence in paragraphing & 6) Well-organised paragraphing

An Oxford dictionary defines 'coherence' as 'the situation in which all the parts of something
fit together well'. For instance, when writing an essay entitled 'My Hero', it is advisable to write
about things that are of the same nature in a paragraph. For example, after the
introduction, you can write about the childhood of your hero in the first paragraph. Then, in
the second, third, fourth and fifth paragraphs, you can write about his educational
background, occupation, personalities and accomplishments respectively. It is unwise to mix
them up as it lacks coherence and is not well-organised.

7) Essay is very interesting and shows originality

An interesting essay does not talk about the boring stuff. For example, you decide to write an
essay entitled 'Describe an enjoyable weekend you have experienced' or Describe a camping
trip at the beach with your family. Avoid including stuff like:

"When I woke up that morning, I went to the toilet to brush my teeth and wash my face.
After that, I dressed up and went downstairs to have my breakfast. I had bread and butter
for breakfast..."

You can put it this way:

"When I woke up that morning, I was excited as my whole family would be going on a camping
trip at the beach. After getting everything ready, we set off for the beach in my father's
van..."

You can continue the essay by describing all the interesting things that you and your family
saw and did at the beach. It is a good idea to write about your own experience, since it shows
originality. When writing essays, it is also important to write about logical things.

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 WAYS TO START A
COMPOSITION
To captivate the reader right from the start!

1 Dialogue
Pete! Where are you? My mothers cries penetrated the fire that surrounded me. She was
the person I loved most, yet showed it least to. As the reality that I might lose her slowly
sank in, memories of the events that led to this flashed through my mind

2 A Proverb
Blood is thicker than water. There are so many acts of kindness that we so often take for
granted and willfully let pass by, but there are few that can surpass the love of a family
member

3 A Question
Have you ever been in a brush with dangerous so perilous you could have lost your life?

4 A startling fact
My reckless actions nearly caused the death of my best friend. I remember it like it was
yesterday

5 A description
The alley was dark and silent, but it was not dank like I would have expected. An unusual
warmth permeated the place, like as if there were a source of something hopeful and
expectant.

6 A sound
Beep, beep, beep The repetitive beeping resounded in my head. I wondered if it was the
alarm clock that I so dreaded imprinting itself subconsciously in my head. Still, I ignored the
distant signal and carried on with the errand my mother had tasked me.

7 Complication + Flashback
Fear and trepidation seized the crowd. There were hushed whispers and stifled sobs as they
dreaded the worst in things to come. It did not help that the victim was in complete hysteria,
which fuelled the robbers arm to tighten around her neck. The knife he wielded got
dangerously close to piercing her skin. Thoughts raced through my mind. Oh, how I wish I
had not ignored that instinct to inform the police before all this even started

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8 Outcome + Flashback
Paramedics rushed to my side and gingerly lifted me onto the stretcher. It was nowhere
near
the instant relief I had expected. Instead, the very fact that I was about to be transported
away
from the proximity of my parents, whose whereabouts were still unknown, worried me
further. It all started like this

9 Conclusion + Flashback
Even on the most weary of days, I make it a point to spend time talking to my mother. As
she
sits on a wheelchair silently and stares ahead of her, something in her eyes tells me that she
still recognizes me. I tell her I love her and the words seem to sink in past those glassy eyes,
causing her tears to brim past her unflinching pupils. That is all I need. I close my eyes and am
instantly transported to the memory of her selfless act of love

GOOD PHRASES THAT

DESCRIBE EMOTIONS

Fear Happy Angry Sad

...frozen with terror... ...head was dizzy with delight...
...he was ecstatic over.... ...mind was engulfed by rage...
...furious over/with... ...broke down into tears...
...felt wretched with grief... ...all hairs on her body stood on their ends...
...a shiver ran down her spine... ...elated to ...
...was over the moon... ...boiling mad...
...fuming mad... ...was heart-rending to see her...
...felt gloomy... ...could feel the impending danger...
...was horrified by ... ...in high spirits...
...jumping with joy... ...livid with rage...
...he saw red... ...gloomy and depressed...
...filled with misery... ...trembling with fear...
...felt a sense of dread...

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 Shock Embarrassment Tired Hungry
...was surprised to... ...famished...
...face turned beet red with... ...flabbergasted...
...worn out with fatigue... ..ashamed...
...ravenous for... ...dragging himself on limply...
...amazed to find... ...wolfed down his food...
...dig herself a hole and hide... ...was astonished...
...feel herself shrivel up into a dried prune...
...could not muster up a single ounce of ...his body felt as if it was made of lead...
strength any more... ...stomach was begging for food...
...could not bring herself to meet his eyes...
...feel the stomach twisting and turning ...limbs felt as if they were chained to iron
in agony... shackles...
...as hungry as a wolf...
...unexpected...
...mortified to see...
...dog tired...
...stomach growling...
...astounded...

Nervous/Excitement Pain Pride Temptation

...hands felt
...writhing in agony...
...sense of pleasure...
...could not resist...
clammy...
...butterflies in the stomach...
... knife was pierced through the heart...
...surge of pride well up...
...felt as if he was being pulled over by
an invisible thread...
wrenching pain...
...conceited...
...irresistible...
...swallowed down a gulp and...
...filled with agony...
...as proud as a peacock...
...helplessly drawn into/towards...
...jittery...
...sharp pain sear through...

...tingling with anxiety/excitement...

...stabbed forcefully with a blunt knife...
...chest stuck out proudly...
...unconsciously gravitating towards...
...could hear his heart throbbing loudly...
...keel over in gut

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 Envy
...beads of cold sweat were dripping down...
...felt the pain shoot right to his head...
...green with envy...
...pumping with adrenaline...
...the pain was excruciating...
...felt a pang of jealousy...