IELT Tip #10 Writing: Real Time Editing

.Unfortunately, in the IELTS test, you are not given time to do a second draft but that does not mean you should not do some 'real-time' editing, meaning that you edit while you write. As you write, look back at what you have just written before you move on with the next sentence. There are 3 possible scenarios:

1) You are uncomfortable with the sentence that you have written and you do not know how to repair it. I advise not wasting time trying to repair it. If it looks uncomfortable to you, it is probably going to be uncomfortable with the examiner as well.

The best way to deal with this is to simply cross the sentence out and rewrite. Try to phrase it more simply and clearly. You may want to use a bot of word reorder to make it a 'cleaner sentence'

2) You feel comfortable with the sentence but you feel you should add or cut out words and you realize you there are mistakes.

In this case you can cross out words and add in other phrases. you may be editing just to make the sentence clearer to the reader or perhaps you are improving the tone (eg making it more formal or less colloquial) or adding a better word.

3) You feel the sentence is perfect, and you are very comfortable with it, just check it again for the often overlooked errors, sometimes referred to as 'careless errors'.

Often  overlooked are 
You can expect to 'catch' one error per sentence and often it is the accumulation of small errors that can destroy a good mark.

1. Plural/singular verbs (adding an 's' or not)
2. missing articles (ie 'a', 'the', 'an')
3. punctuation (especially misplaced periods, commas or apostrophes
4. spelling (still an issue for many)
5. wrong preposition (in, at, on etc..)