✍️ Part 14: How to Self-Edit and Improve Your Writing Under Exam Pressure
(For IGCSE, AS Level, and IB English Paper 1 & 2)
You’ve just finished writing your response with five minutes left on the clock. Now what? Most students read it once and stop. But self-editing with intent—even under pressure—can raise your grade significantly.
This guide will show you how.
🎯 Why Self-Editing Matters
- Final impressions affect examiner perception
- Small errors in spelling, clarity, or punctuation reduce impact
- Editing helps you spot repetition, awkward phrasing, or tone mismatches
🧭 The 3-Minute Editing Plan
Here’s a quick, reliable system for self-checking under timed conditions:
✅ 1. Focus First on Clarity (1 min)
- Does every sentence make sense on a first read?
- Are pronouns (“it,” “this”) clear and not vague?
- Any overly long or confusing sentences?
→ If so, split or rephrase!
🔧 Example:
❌ “The atmosphere which was a mix of anxiety and something like it was thick.”
✅ “The atmosphere—thick with anxiety and tension—felt almost solid.”
✅ 2. Fix the Glaring Errors (1 min)
- Spelling (common misspellings: their/there/they’re, definitely, separate)
- Subject-verb agreement
- Sentence fragments or run-ons
- Capitalisation and full stops
🔍 Tip: Read your last paragraph backwards sentence by sentence. This tricks your brain into noticing errors.
✅ 3. Polish for Impact (1 min)
- Replace 1–2 dull verbs/adjectives
→ e.g., went → hurried, nice → compelling - Remove one filler word: “very,” “really,” “just,” “maybe”
- Check your tone—is it consistent with the task?
- Does your ending feel finished or rushed?
✨ Tiny tweaks like this can elevate your language to a higher band.
🔁 Optional Final 30 Seconds: Check for “High-Level Touches”
If time allows, ask:
- Did I use one literary device (simile, metaphor, repetition)?
- Did I include a sensory detail or figurative phrase?
- Is my opening strong and purposeful?
- Does my structure feel balanced?
💡 Real-Exam Self-Editing Triggers
| Spot This | Ask Yourself… |
| Two sentences start the same way | Can I vary sentence openings? |
| Word repeats thrice in a paragraph | Can I use a synonym? |
| No paragraph break for 10+ lines | Should I split for clarity? |
| Ending feels abrupt | Can I loop back to the opening idea? |
🛠 Quick Fixes Cheat Sheet (Under Pressure)
| Problem | Quick Fix |
| Dull description | Add 1 sensory image (sound, touch, etc.) |
| Weak argument point | Add 1 example or rhetorical question |
| Tone mismatch | Adjust modal verbs: must, could, might |
| No clear closing line | End with a reflective or bold statement |
🎓 Examiner Reminder
“Top-performing students demonstrate careful crafting of language—even in the final minutes. Awareness of style, structure, and clarity often distinguishes a Band 3 from a Band 5.”
🧪 Practice Prompt
Write a 200-word descriptive or persuasive paragraph.
Then set a 3-minute timer and apply the three-step editing plan.
Make a note of:
- What you changed
- Why you changed it
- How it improved your paragraph