S.4 English Paper One: Composition Writing Rules and Marking Penalties

This two-page guide for Senior Four learners preparing for English Paper One covers composition writing. It lists twenty common mistakes to avoid in Section A (functional writing) and Section B (composition) and explains how examiners penalise each one. Skipped lines lead to a disjointed-script penalty. Numbered points, sub-headings in compositions, contractions, abbreviations and informal language are also penalised. The guide covers minor irrelevancy, brevity, wrong formats and misreading the question. It also deals with copied stories, poor punctuation, single-paragraph answers, block paragraphing, spelling errors and unreadable handwriting. Learners can use it to check their writing and avoid losing marks.