why you get low marks when your english composition is scored
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All students and writers should learn the right way to write, especially if they are not native speakers of the English Language.TRANSCRIPT
WASSCE ALERT! HOW ENGLISH ESSAYS ARE MARKED IN WAEC!!!
Below you will find important information to improve your writing of essay in your upcoming WASSCE
TECHNICAL NOTES USUALLY USED BY EXAMINERS FOR MARKING WAEC ENGLISH ESSAYS
USING COEM (WAEC SCHEME)
COEM means CONTENT + ORGANIZATION + EXPRESSION + MECHANICAL ACCURACY
Please take note of the instruction usually given by WAEC at the beginning of the essay section…
YOUR ANSWER SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN 450 WORDS
CONTENT
1. For each essay “content” has a maximum of 10 marks.
2. “Content” refers to relevance of ideas to the topic and its specific audience and purpose. It also refers to the
appropriateness of the language and relevance to the central theme and its development. The adequacy of
treatment of the subject matter is important and there must be some originality in approach. A reproduction of
knowledge from another subject like Biology or Economics not original to the writer will lead to reduction of
marks. Above all, any deliberate distortion of ideas will be penalized e.g. writing a letter to an editor instead of
an article, will be punished. Engaging in an irrelevant topic to the question set will lead to being awarded zero
marks. Where the composition appears to be totally irrelevant, the scripts will be referred to the Chief
Examiner. Sometimes, many candidates hastily choose a topic they do not understand. Consequently, the topic
is frequently misinterpreted, distorted or abandoned half way for lack of acceptable material e.g. a candidate
who was asked to write on an incident but who wrote on an accident will lose marks for irrelevancy if the
question has no relevance to an accident.
3. Following the rules of grammar and punctuation judiciously is not sufficient, a passage without errors of
language can be considered badly phrased or difficult to follow based on form and content.
4. An unusual and unexpected approach will, however, not be rejected without careful consideration.
ORGANIZATION
5.For each essay, “organization” has a maximum of 10 marks.
6.“Organization” refers to the correct use of formal features such as good paragraphing, appropriate use of
emphasis and arrangement of ideas. Paragraphs are expected to be chronologically, spatially and logically
coherent.
7.What examiners look for include a suitable opening, adequate development into paragraphs, links between
paragraph, balance, unity, coherence, and a suitable conclusion. For example, in a letter, all features must be
present. Absence of necessary feature or wrong use will be penalized. Paragraphs are expected to be effectively
linked for a good score. The usual problem here is inadequate preparation. Many answers lack paragraph
development, or logical slanting. Again, single-sentence paragraphs are usually common. At the extreme, some
essays have one or two paragraphs.
EXPRESSION
8.For each essay, “expression” has a maximum of 20 marks.
9.Expression refers to vocabulary chosen, which should reflect the general audience, atmosphere or format of
composition, e.g. vocabulary for an informal letter. Vocabulary must also be controlled and the sentences
structured.
10.An example of the distinction being made about vocabulary is the language expectations for an article in a
school magazine, which should be a story telling experience, or for expressing a personal opinion. On the other
hand, the language in an article for publication is expected to be formal.
11.Sentences of informal letters can be long, while those for formal ones short. But incomplete sentences will
be penalized. There is also room for emotional language in an informal letter. A judicious and imaginative use
of figurative language is also allowed. Descriptive words to create a vivid picture of an incident are also
allowed.
12.Examiners are not expected to be unduly influenced by mechanical errors in awarding marks for expressions
but this is perhaps the greatest problem to students, many candidates suffer from a severely restricted
vocabulary and inadequate exposure to idiomatic English. Many sentences are translations of the mother
tongue, resulting in many un- English collocations. The real cause of the problem is the neglect of extensive
reading.
MECHANICAL ACCURACY
13. For each essay, “mechanical accuracy” has a maximum of 10marks
14. Mechanical accuracy refers to grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) rules to be complied with. Errors
discovered will be penalized by examiners, and 1/2 mark deducted for each, up to a maximum of 10marks.
15.Candidates are expected to use skillful and sophisticated ways of punctuations and should avoid being
“caught” by examiners especially on errors indicated by WAEC in its yearly Chief Examiners’ Reports.
ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL NOTES FOR MARKING ESSAY / COMPOSITIONS
16.Examiners will mark on the principle of positive marking i.e. credit will be awarded for what is done right,
and penalty will be given for errors and blemishes. Penalties are not in all cases numerical deductions, but the
award of a mark lesser than would have been awarded if there were no blemishes.
17.Once the examiner determines the length of about 450 words, he or she will rule the point. No errors are to
count for mechanical accuracy after this point but will be underlined if found and taken into account in giving
the mark for “expression”.
18.When a composition is short or below its required length the maximum mark for M.A shall be
proportionately reduced. This will be done before the examiner awards the overall mark for M.A. While there is
no penalty against a long composition, generally, the length may count for either a reward or a penalty under
CONTENT, ORGANIZATION and EXPRESSION.
19.If a candidate attempts more than one essay question, only the first one answered will be marked. No penalty
shall be given for others.
20.If a candidate writes on a topic that is irrelevant to the question set, zero shall be awarded for content and
organization, and not more than 8 marks out of 20 for expression. The mechanical accuracy bit of it will be
treated as stated above