English: Writing Essays, Letters and Comprehension Answers
Head Mark Coaching13 October 2026 1 min read
Clear structure, simple language and careful reading earn the most marks in English. Here is how to practise each part of the paper.
Good English marks do not need difficult words. They need clear structure, correct grammar and answers that match the question.
Essays
- Plan for two minutes before writing: choose three or four main points.
- Write an introduction that states the topic, two or three body paragraphs with one idea each, and a conclusion.
- Use simple, correct sentences. A long sentence with mistakes loses more marks than a short one that is right.
- Leave a few minutes to read and fix spelling and punctuation.
Learn the outline of five or six common essay topics, such as education, technology, health and the environment, and practise writing each in full once.
Letters and applications
Learn the format by heart: the address, date, salutation, subject line, body, closing and signature. Examiners often give marks just for the correct format, so these are the easiest marks in the paper.
Comprehension
- Read the questions first, then read the passage.
- Underline the answer in the passage, then write it in your own words unless the question asks you to quote.
- Answer in complete sentences and keep to what is asked.
Grammar
Revise tenses, subject and verb agreement, articles, prepositions and active and passive voice. Do a few exercises a day and keep a list of the mistakes you often make.
Vocabulary
Read a short article or a page of a story every day and write down five new words with their meaning. Use each word in a sentence of your own.