Many students lose marks because of avoidable mistakes in structure, language, or organisation. This guide highlights the most frequent pitfalls and offers simple, practical ways to fix them .

1. Copying the Question

Examiners deduct marks if you copy phrases directly from the task.

What to do instead: Paraphrase using synonyms, changing the sentence structure, and rephrasing key ideas in your own words.

2. Poor Time Management

Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1, yet many students rush it.

What to do instead: Aim to spend around 40 minutes and don't forget to plan, write, and check your work.

3. Waffling or Going Off-Topic

Adding unnecessary ideas weakens your argument and reduces coherence.

What to do instead: Make a short plan before writing. Stick closely to your main points and remove anything that doesn’t support your argument.

4. Weak Paragraphing

Unclear organisation makes writing hard to follow.

What to do instead: Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence. Focus on one main idea per paragraph and develop it with explanation or examples.

5. Overly Informal Language

Task 2 is an academic essay, so casual, everyday expressions are inappropriate.

What to do instead: Avoid colloquial language, phrasal verbs and contractions (such as haven't, didn't). Use formal, precise vocabulary that suits academic writing. Also, avoid: e.g, i.e, e.t.c

6. Awkward Sentence Length

Sentences that are too short sound simplistic; sentences that are too long become confusing.

What to do instead: Use a natural mix of simple and complex sentences. Break up overly long ideas with full stops for clarity.

7. Not Practising Enough

Many learners assume their general English is enough for a high score.

What to do instead: Write essays regularly and seek feedback. Improvement in Task 2 comes from consistency and correction.

Practical Checklist Before You Submit

Use this quick checklist in the exam to make sure your essay is clear, focused, and fully developed:

• Have you answered every part of the question?

• Is your position clear in both the introduction and conclusion?

• Does each paragraph begin with a topic sentence?

• Are your ideas supported with clear explanation or examples?

• Have you used linking words naturally and appropriately?

• Is your language formal, accurate, and varied?