O-Level Essay Writing: 6 Common Mistakes That Cost Students Marks

Why Strong Essay Writing Matters in the O-Levels

Essay writing in the O-Level English Paper 1 is not just about writing grammatically correct phrases. It’s about crafting coherent, relevant, and engaging pieces that meet the demands of the task. With only one shot at the continuous writing section, every paragraph counts. Yet, many students unknowingly lose marks due to common, avoidable mistakes.

Let’s examine six frequent pitfalls—and more importantly, how to avoid them.

1. Weak or Vague Introductions

A weak introduction often fails to hook the examiner or clearly introduce the essay’s direction. Some students start with generic statements or dive straight into the narrative without establishing a strong premise.

Fix it: Begin with a relevant hook—be it a question, quote, or vivid setting. Then, clearly lay out your central theme or argument.

W@W Tip: In our Secondary English Programme, students are trained to experiment with different opening strategies, from suspenseful hooks to thematic summaries, and get immediate feedback from our teachers on what works best.

2. Underdeveloped Points or Plot

In both argumentative and narrative essays, weak content development is a major issue. For argumentative essays, students may list points without depth. For narratives, the plot might feel rushed or lack tension.

Fix it: Use a “Point-Explain-Example” structure for expository writing. For narrative essays, develop rising action, climax, and resolution intentionally.

3. Repetitive Vocabulary and Sentence Structures

Examiners take note of vocabulary range and sentence variation. Repeating the same words or sentence patterns makes writing feel dull and unrefined.

Fix it: Build a list of high-impact verbs, sensory descriptions, and transitional phrases. Vary sentence openings and combine short and long structures for interesting rhythm.

W@W Tip: Our vocabulary enhancement drills and phrase banks, provided in weekly writing classes, equip students with effective alternatives they can confidently apply in their essays.

4. Poor Paragraph Organisation

Some students write in long, unfocused blocks of text or break up ideas inconsistently. This affects coherence and confuses the reader.

Fix it: Have the intent of the paragraph clear in your mind. Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence, and stick to one main idea per paragraph. Ensure smooth transitions between ideas.

W@W Tip: Our model compositions and class practices guide students to develop ideas in depth. Check out our Secondary 4 Model Essay Book (Vol.2) for realistic, AL1-standard examples that demonstrate structured development.

5. Ignoring the Question Requirements

Misinterpreting the question or failing to stay on task is a costly error. This happens especially in argumentative or reflective essays, where students stray into unrelated tangents.

Fix it: Spend time unpacking the essay question. Ask yourself: What is the scope? What type of response is required? Stay focused throughout.

W@W Tip: We teach students to annotate essay questions and draft outlines that keep them on track. This approach is one of the key features of our WRITERS@WORK Curriculum.

6. Flat or Abrupt Conclusions

Many students end their essays abruptly or with clichéd lines like ‘In the end, that was the lesson that I learnt’. This leaves a weak final impression.

Fix it: Revisit your key message or lesson and wrap up with a thought-provoking insight or call-back to your introduction.

Bonus Strategy: Practise writing conclusions first as a planning technique—this helps ensure your essay has a clear endpoint in sight.

At WRITERS AT WORK, we believe that every student can write with purpose, clarity, and impact. Our English Programmes for secondary levels includes composition practices and access to curated model compositions for every writing type—from narrative to expository.

Explore our Secondary English Programmes
Download our Free Model Compositions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What makes a good O-Level essay introduction?

A strong introduction grabs the reader’s attention and outlines the essay’s main focus. It should be concise, relevant, and set the tone for the rest of the piece.

2. How can I improve my vocabulary for O-Level English essays?

Read widely and keep a personal vocabulary journal. At WRITERS AT WORK, teachers provide feedback on effectiveness of students’ language use, and how to showcase your ideas in a clear and cohesive way.

3. What is the best way to practice for the O-Level Paper 1?

Write consistently and get feedback. Join a structured writing class like our Secondary English Programme, which mirrors exam formats and offers model answers, and topic analysis.