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. 

Common Errors in English Language Paper 2

Section 1 (Reading for Ideas)

Note Making:

· Notes are not precised. Details and examples are mentioned.

· Some points are not extracted from the specified paragraphs.

· Points are written out of the given space.

· Points are illegible.

· Own points/ opinions are included.

· Two given points are also added to complete 15 points.

Summary:

· Own words are not used

· Linking Words are missing.

· Word count is either not mentioned or wrongly written.

· Word Count is exceeded. (More than 160 words.)

· All the points of notes are not included.

  

Short Question/ Answers:

· Facts and opinions are not taken from the specified paragraphs.

· No conclusion is drawn in conclusion question.

· In personal experience or opinion question, information or examples from the given   

  passage are taken.

Section 2 (Reading for Meanings)

·  Types of questions are not identified so answered inaccurately.

·  In own words questions, mere keywords are written than mentioning synonyms.

·  In quotation question, sentences are written instead of a word or phrase.

·  In vocabulary question, more than one meaning is given or more than seven words are

   used for description.

·  In vocabulary question, literal meaning is written instead of contextual meaning.

·  Conclusion is not drawn for inferential questions.

Describing Physical Features of People

Face and Head	Nose	Hair
Pale-looking	Long sharp nose	With lovely curls
Freckled cheeks	Hooked nose	Wavy hair
Square jaws	snub nose	Neatly combed
Pimply face	enormous nose	Plaited
Sun-tanned skin	Eyes / Eyebrows	Unkempt hair
Sunken cheeks	Bright sparkling eyes	Hair in a tangled mess
Wizened (old, shrunken and wrinkled with age)	Eyes twinkling with mischief	Long, soft and silky hair
Full of pockmarks	Bloodshot eyes	Hair sticking out
A fair complexion, A dark complexion , A swallow complexion	Small, beady eyes looking sly	Shoulders
Voice	Dull, expressionless eyes	Broad muscular shoulders
A screeching voice	Eyes as red as burning coals	Narrow and sloping shoulders
Loud and dictatorial	Squinty eyes
Deep, authoritative     voice	Almond- shaped eyes
Dry and caustic	Eyes that slant upwards
Tremulous	Puffy eyes, Bulging eyes, small piggy eyes

Narrative Essay Writing

Descriptive Essay Writing

Argumentative Essay Writing

Good expressions for describing anger

1)  He muttered furiously under his breath.

2)  Her eyes glared at him in ruthless impersonality.

3)  His resentment blinded his logic.

4)  He was outraged.

5)  He was infuriated with his son for not telling the truth.

6)  She blew her top when she could not get her way.

7)  There was fury in his eyes.

8)  The little boy put a lot of anger into the blow, knocking the bully over.

9)  She seethed with indignation.

10) A wave of rage swept over him.

11) It caused an enormous furor.

12) He was livid when he realized that his car was scratched.

13) He did his best to mask his anger but…

14) She was so angry that she hurled curses at her rival.

15) His anger was formidable.

16) One could see a flicker of anger that crossed her face.

17) She flounced out of the room when her boss ridiculed her ideas.

18) She was just too upset to even bother about how others thought about her. Unanswered questions burned endlessly in her brain; her inner voice was screaming in silent anguish and betrayal as she sank into the shadowed corner of the restroom, holding her head in her hands whilst the tears kept flowing.

19) Tom turned red with fury.

20) Peter was boiling with rage

21) He stamped his foot in anger.

22) Sally gritted her teeth in anger.

23) They were too angry for words.

24) Her voice crackled with anger.

25) Jake stormed off towards the exit.

26) His anger turned into violence.

27) He drew in his breath with a long hiss.

28) He was like a bull in a china shop.

29) A wave of futile rage swept over him.

30) An angry frown creased her forehead.

31) I could see her eyes glowing in fury.

32) He was so angry that his blood boiled.

33) She stormed out of the room in anger.

34) His fist came down on the table with a loud bang.

35) In a fit of anger, he stabbed her to death.

36) His eyes flashed with anger and resentment.

37) His face was contorted with rage and fury.

38) He clenched his fist and shook with fury.

39) He was fuming but he contained his anger.

40) Seething with anger, he approached me menacingly.

41) In a blind fury, he smashed the chair against the television set.

42) With hands trembling from anger, the man slapped the boy hard.

43) She was hopping mad when she heard the slanderous accusations.

44) His hands were shaking uncontrollably and his face turned an ominous red.

45) His face had turned to the colour of molten lava and his eyes flashed bolts of lightning.

46) She stared with eyes filled with anger and hatred that were beyond description

47) Father flew into a rage when I told him I had lost the valuable watch he bought for me.

48) My sister and I had a heated argument over the new dress we were supposed to share.

49) I was shocked at the string of abusive words that came out from her mouth when we quarrelled.

50) Ahmad lost his temper and slapped his brother. In the next moment, fists were flying, as they exchanged blows.

51) Mary was as angry as a bull that saw red when she realised that she had been conned by the quick-witted salesman.

52) After hearing that John had betrayed him, Ali went for his blood.

53) He clenched his fists in anger.

54) Flying into a rage, he slapped his sister’s face for ruining the things he loved most.

55) As Jim was naughty, Mrs Lim scolded him in a thunderous voice.

Good expressions for describing sadness

1) Tears trickled down my face.

2) His face was grave, abstracted, almost could have fancied sad.

3) My heart was in my mouth, and the dread I felt was palpable.

4) He was disconsolate and without hope because of the loss of his mother.

5) “Will you miss me?” I asked with a tinge of sadness.

6) He sauntered into the class gloomily.

7) Her eyes were puffy with a trace of wetness around the lids.

8) Jane blinked back tears that threatened to overcome her.

9) The great pain and sorrow totally shattered her.

10) The sorrow seemed to diminish everyone physically.

11) She committed suicide during a fit of depression.

12) The news cast a gloom over the entire family.

13) He was overcome by melancholy when his mate died. He has been moping about the around the house ever since.

14) He was in low spirits because he was accused of cheating.

15) She composed herself and wiped the tears away.

16) Her throat was too raw with pain for her to speak.

17) He waited forlornly outside the house, despite the pouring rain.

18) Nothing we did could lift him out of his state of deep gloom.

19) When he left, she sank into melancholy.

20) “He’s left me,” she revealed in a small, stricken voice.

21) He was extremely distressed by the bad news.

22) My heart sank. A sudden loss came over me.

23) Her lips moved desolately in prayer, imploring the gods to have mercy on her.

24) He sat there in mute misery, his face in his hands.

25) When he left, she sank into melancholy.

26) She buried her face in her hands and sobbed quietly, unable to hold in the great tide of emotions.

27) Her emotions hit her like a bullet through her chest.

28) I was homesick and dismayed by the dismal weather in London.

29) Her eyes turned watery and red as the hurtful moments were brought back to mind again.

30) Tears streamed down her face as she walked out of the coffee club with her hand still clutching on to the pendant.

31) Sue broke into tears.

32) A dark mood came over Jane.

33) She was on the verge of tears.

34) Tears rolled down her rosy cheeks.

35) No words could express his agony.

36) Tears welled up in Nancy’s eyes.

37) The poor child sobbed sorrowfully.

38) With a heavy heart, he left the hospital.

39) My heart sank when I heard the sad news.

40) Her eyes were puffy and red after all the crying.

41) She cried her heart out on hearing the tragic news.

42) The frightened child was on the brink of tears.

43) They were sobbing their hearts out when they heard of their father’s sudden death.

44) Mrs Lee was so overcome with grief that she fainted a few times at her husband’s funeral

45) My heart sank when my teacher told me that I had failed the examination.

46) The little girl burst into tears when she could not find her mother.

47) The little girl was close to tears when her mother left her in the care of the new maid.

48) She was so upset that she could not stop her tears from streaming down her cheeks.

49) A tingle of sorrow swept over me.

50) Her heart was shattered after hearing the devastating news.

51) With tears in my eyes, a quaver in my throat, tears streamed down my cheeks onto the ground.

52) Grief, remorse and depression covered me like a thick choking blanket.

53) Tears of sorrow rolled down my cheeks when I heard the heart-breaking news.

54) He howled dismally when his dog died

55) After being wrongly accused by his best friend, he felt down in the dumps.

56) Kevin felt utterly miserable when Julia called off the wedding.

57) His heart overflowed with sadness when he lost the race.

58) Feeling blue, he went for a holiday to forget all his sorrow.

59) She felt very wretched after being slapped and locked up by her husband.

60) He told his cousins all his woes when they visited him.