How can you improve your score on a writing exam?

Answer 1

The best way to do this is to go back over your writing and read it "aloud" in your head slowly. Most of the time, you'll find your own grammatical mistakes by "hearing" the words instead of just looking at them. Here are some advanced things to look for:

Verify your verbs and tense (past vs. present), remove adverbs (words that describe an action);

Turn passive verbs into active ones (look for has, have, been, is, or was before the verb. Example: He was sitting by the door. = He sat by the door.);

Look for word echoes (using the same word over and over, especially in the same paragraph) and use synonyms.

If typing, fix homonyms (aka autocorrect chose the wrong word)

And make sure you format with an introduction, thesis statement, supporting evidence, and conclusion; and that your paragraphs start with the main fact of the statement, then supporting evidence for that point.

Good luck!

Answer 2

As a veteran writing teacher, an author and editor, I share a simple strategy- after completing your writing check your verbs! Often, even for the best writers, they are repetitive and can be "caught" in a rather quick review. Make sure that your verbs are the most efficient and effective, to add to the description. Example- if you are trying to share about the escape of a Revolutionary Soldier from the British Army, sharing- " The sergeant ran through the plain hills', ineffective and mostly boring. Much better- " Escaping through the barren hills, had the sergeant's heart beating furiously, as he hid from the enemy." When you check your verb choices, you'll find your writing greatly improves.