Most marks in the Selective writing task are lost in the same handful of ways. Here are ten to look out for, with a fix for each.

1. Drifting off-topic

The problem

The piece starts with the prompt but wanders somewhere else. Off-topic writing is marked lower, however good it is.

The fix

Reread the prompt after planning, and again halfway through writing. Every paragraph should link back to it.

2. Ignoring the form

The problem

The prompt asks for a newspaper report and the student writes a story.

The fix

Write the form and audience at the top of your plan ("newspaper report, local readers") and follow that form's features.

3. No plan

The problem

The piece loses direction, repeats itself or never reaches an ending.

The fix

Use a quick five-line plan: hook, three beats, ending. See how to plan in 5 minutes.

4. One giant paragraph

The problem

A wall of text is hard to read and hides the structure.

The fix

Start a new paragraph for each new idea, event, speaker, time or place. Most pieces need four to six paragraphs.

5. Telling instead of showing

The problem

"Sam was scared."

The fix

Show it. "Sam's hands shook as he reached for the door handle." Readers feel more when they work it out themselves.

6. Repeating the same words

The problem

"big", "nice", "said" and "then" again and again.

The fix

After writing, scan for words you've used three or more times and swap some of them for more precise choices.

7. Run-on sentences

The problem

Long chains of ideas joined with "and" or commas.

The fix

Read your writing aloud in your head. Where you'd naturally pause for breath, you probably need a full stop. Mix short sentences with longer ones for effect.

8. Spelling and punctuation slips

The problem

Without spell-check, small errors add up.

The fix

Practice without spell-check at home and keep a personal list of words you often get wrong. See how to practice spelling without spell-check.

9. A rushed or missing ending

The problem

The piece stops suddenly when time runs out.

The fix

Plan the ending before you start writing, and keep an eye on the time. A short, planned ending beats an unfinished brilliant middle.

10. Not checking

The problem

Easy mistakes stay in because there's no time left to look.

The fix

Save 3–5 minutes at the end. Check the first and last sentences, paragraphing, capital letters, full stops and your usual spelling mistakes.

Practice fixing one thing at a time

Don't try to fix all ten at once. Pick one or two for each practice piece. Start a free practice prompt and focus on just one fix today.