Question 1 Directed Writing Skills: SPaG (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Language)
Revision Note
Written by: Deb Orrock
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
Question 1 Directed Writing Skills: SPaG
As you are mainly being assessed on your writing skills, Assessment Objective W5 tests you on your ability to make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar. One of the key things the examiners look for is the use of a range of different sentence forms in your writing, which will naturally lead to a greater range of punctuation which the examiners can then reward. However, getting the basics right and consistency are key. Leaving five minutes to proof-read your work when you have finished writing is therefore really important, as it is easy to make silly mistakes in the pressure of an exam situation.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Ensure you are careful to use basic end-of-sentence punctuation correctly. A common error is the use of commas instead of full-stops. This is called comma-splicing and should be avoided. A comma represents the separation of two or more parts of a sentence, not a break at the end of a sentence.
Sentence demarcation
Sentence demarcation means that you have started your sentences with a capital letter and ended them correctly, using either a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark. This sounds simple enough, but comma-splicing and run-on sentences are some of the most common errors made in terms of technical accuracy in the exam, so it is important to review that you know exactly when a sentence finishes and how to indicate that it has finished.
Sentences end with three types of punctuation:
A full stop (for a statement)
A question mark (for a direct question)
An exclamation mark (to indicate surprise, shock, anger or happiness)
All sentences must begin with a capital letter.
Have a look at the example below. Sentence demarcation is absent, so consider how much harder it is to make sense of what has been written:
Whether or not you think smartphones are a good thing, the fact of life in today’s society is that the mobile phone is no longer just a phone in fact they are our lives we network, socialize, gossip and get information from them, we have our bus passes, train tickets, bank cards, timetables and reminders on them we can even do our college work on them what we use them for is constantly changing and expanding. |
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Now compare the example above with the example below, which uses the correct sentence demarcations:
Whether or not you think smartphones are a good thing, the fact of life in today’s society is that the mobile phone is no longer just a phone. In fact, they are our lives. We network, socialise, gossip and get information from them. We have our bus passes, train tickets, bank cards, timetables and reminders on them. We can even do our college work on them. What we use them for is constantly changing and expanding. |
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The more sophisticated and complex your sentences, the more important accurate sentence demarcation is. Varying the length of your sentences will create a more dynamic rhythm to your writing.
Range of punctuation
For the highest marks, you need to use a wide range of punctuation accurately and purposefully to achieve specific effects. This means that you make conscious choices about the type of punctuation you are using in your writing, and why you are using it. However, it is worth remembering that using apostrophes, semi-colons and colons accurately just a few times is preferable to using them indiscriminately and incorrectly. It is also very important to know how to punctuate dialogue accurately if you choose to use it in a piece of creative writing; if you are not sure of the rules of punctuating direct speech, then avoid it!
The bottom tier of the punctuation pyramid below shows the range of punctuation you should be aiming to use:
Below you will find a brief explanation of colons and semi-colons and their uses:
Colons:
Colons can introduce lists, quotes or long explanations. They can be used in an article, for example, to introduce a list of tips if you are giving advice. They can also be used before a direct quote (one you may have made up from an “expert”).
For example:
The media officer for London Zoo advised: “We take the protection and welfare of our animals extremely seriously. Any reported concerns regarding the health of our animals would be acted upon immediately.”
Semicolons:
Semicolons can be used to connect two related sentences instead of a full stop or a conjunction. They are therefore a good way of adding variety to your writing.
For example:
Most celebrities in today’s culture do very little except promote themselves tirelessly; they do no actual work and rely on social media to do the work for them.
They can also be used instead of commas when separating items in a very long or wordy list.
Range of sentence forms
Using a range of sentence forms means that you deliberately consider how your sentences create a tone of voice. For example, short sentences can indicate tension or urgency, especially if they are written in the imperative form. Long, complex sentences can sound quite formal, but too many of them can be monotonous and difficult to read.
Below you will find some of the ways you can vary your sentences:
Type of sentence | Explanation |
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Sentence openers | This means varying how you start your sentences, avoiding starting each one with personal pronouns (“I”) or with the same word |
Instead, you could start your sentences with:
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Sentence length | Try to vary the length of your sentences, as too many long sentences can overshadow your arguments, whereas using too many short sentences sounds simple and can make your arguments stunted |
In general, if your paragraph consists of only one or two long sentences, you need to revisit it to consider how easy it is for your reader to identify your main points and the purpose of the paragraph | |
Alternating between sentence lengths allows writers to use sentences strategically, emphasising important points through short sentences and providing detail with longer ones | |
For example: The oil company reported that their profits had risen by more than 10% over the period of half a year. This information shocked the public. How, in a period of financial difficulty for the entire nation, could a single company justify raising prices and lining their pockets while ordinary people suffered? | |
Sentence type | There are four main types of sentences: |
Simple: a simple sentence is a single clause with no conjunction or dependent clause | |
Compound: a compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (“and”, “because”, “but”, “so”) | |
Complex: a complex sentence contains one main clause and at least one dependent clause (which relies on the main clause for meaning) | |
Compound-complex: a compound-complex sentence contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause | |
Understanding sentence types will help you avoid repetition and monotony in your writing |
Standard English and secure grammar
Standard English is accepted as the “correct” form of English, used in formal writing. It follows grammatical rules such as subject-verb agreement and the correct use of verb tenses. Non-standard English often contains slang and is used in more informal situations. This does not mean that you cannot use colloquial language in your writing, especially in an article or speech, but this will be determined by the task and topic.
It is worth noting that mistakes with sentence agreement (subject-verb agreement) and the inconsistent use of tense are frequently flagged by examiners as being an issue in exams. Therefore, it is important that you:
Use plurals correctly
Maintain a consistent use of tense:
If you are writing in the past tense, ensure that this is consistent throughout your writing
If you do change from past to present tense, it should be done purposefully and for effect
Ensure you are using apostrophes correctly, especially to show possession
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember, the best answers use a variety of sentence structures and punctuation features, which have been skilfully used to construct a tone of voice relevant to the task. Using ambitious and sophisticated vocabulary often separates lower-mark responses from ones getting high marks. However, your use of ambitious vocabulary should be appropriate and precise; do not use a more sophisticated word just because you think it “sounds” better, especially if you are not 100% sure of its meaning.
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