← Written text essay
Mistakes that recur across essay standards
The same handful of errors show up in almost every practice essay marked below its potential — catching them yourself before the exam is worth more than any single extra quote. ✕Retelling the plot instead of analysing it
A paragraph that narrates WHAT HAPPENS ("then the character does X, then Y happens") is describing, not analysing, even when it is accurate and detailed. Every sentence in a body paragraph should be doing analytical work — explaining HOW a technique creates an effect, or WHY a choice matters — not moving the story forward for the reader. ✕A quote with no analysis attached
Dropping in a quotation and moving straight to the next point, without unpacking the specific words, image, or technique inside it, wastes the evidence. Every quotation needs at least one sentence explaining WHAT is technically happening in it and WHY it produces the effect being claimed — the quote alone does not do that work for you. ✕Ignoring the SPECIFIED aspect the question actually named
A well-written, well-evidenced paragraph about character earns nothing if the chosen question asked about structure. Before writing each paragraph, check the specific aspect named in your chosen question (setting, structure, language features, a relationship, an event) and confirm the evidence you are about to use is genuinely ABOUT that named aspect — not just good evidence from the right text.A quick self-check before submitting
- Does every paragraph open with a point that directly answers the chosen question, not just a general observation about the text?
- Does every quotation have at least one full sentence of analysis attached to it?
- Does the conclusion introduce a genuine final insight, rather than only repeating the introduction in different words?