Learn to Proofread and Improve Your Exam Scores

In primary school English exams, proofreading issues often serve as a significant obstacle to student performance, particularly in sections such as Creative Writing and English Paper 2. While these exams are designed to assess a wide range of skills, the ability to carefully review and correct one’s work can make a crucial difference in the final grade. Unfortunately, many young children overlook this critical step. As a result, the consequences can be detrimental to their overall performance. Proofreading, when done properly, can be the difference between a grade that reflects a student’s true ability and one that falls short due to avoidable mistakes.

Common Proofreading Issues

1. Spelling Mistakes

One of the most common errors in primary school English exams is the failure to catch basic spelling mistakes. These small yet impactful errors can have a significant effect on the clarity and flow of writing, particularly in Creative Writing tasks. A student might write a creative story, but spelling mistakes such as “dilligent” instead of “diligent” or “seperate” instead of “separate” can detract from the overall quality of the work. While these errors may seem minor, they can contribute to lower scores in areas like spelling, grammar, and general writing skills.

Creative Writing Examples of Spelling Errors:

• • John’s dilligence impressed his new teacher.
    Correction: diligence
  • A river seperates the two regions.
    Correction: separates

2. Grammatical Errors

Another common issue that arises during exams is grammatical mistakes, such as incorrect sentence structures or improper word usage. For instance, a student may write “Me and my friends went to the amusement park.” instead of the grammatically correct “My friends and I went to the amusement park.”

Similarly, sentences can sometimes be incomplete or improperly constructed. These errors, which often go unnoticed in the rush to finish, affect the overall fluency and readability of a student’s writing, ultimately lowering their grade in areas like grammar and sentence structure.

Examples of Grammatical Mistakes:

• • Me and my friends went to the park.
    Correction: My friends and I went to the amusement park.

• • He had went to the grocery store before visiting the pharmacy.
    Correction: He had been to the grocery store before visiting the pharmacy.

3. Run-On Sentences

Another frequent issue is run-on sentences, which occur when two or more independent clauses are joined together without proper punctuation. This can make writing hard to follow and can severely impact the clarity of a student’s response. For example, a sentence like “I went for the Outdoor Adventure Camp, we learnt many skills and had fun.” should be split into two sentences for better clarity: “I went to the Outdoor Adventure Camp. We learnt many skills and had fun.”

Example of Run-On Sentence:

• • I went for the Outdoor Adventure Camp, we learnt many skills and had fun.
    Correction: I went to the Outdoor Adventure Camp. We learnt many skills and had fun.

4. Punctuation Mistakes
Punctuation is another aspect that proofreading can help improve. Without proper punctuation, writing becomes harder to read and understand. For instance, “The wind was cool and it blowed across my face as I walked.” is not only a grammatical mistake, but also difficult to understand. Proofreading allows students to ensure that punctuation marks, such as commas and full stops, are used effectively, which greatly improves the readability and flow of their writing.

Example of Punctuation Mistakes:

• • The wind was cool and it blowed across my face as I walked.
    Correction: The wind was cool, and it blew across my face as I walked.

Proofreading Issues in English Paper 2

Proofreading is equally important in English Paper 2, which often contains comprehension questions and short-answer tasks. In these tasks, students are required to carefully read and understand the question before providing a response. Proofreading their answers helps ensure they fully comprehend the question and have provided an accurate and relevant response.

1. Misreading the Question

One of the main issues that arises when students do not proofread is misreading or misunderstanding the question. This can result in answers that are not aligned with the actual task.

For example, if a question asks, “What is the main reason for John’s sudden refusal to attend the gathering?” a student may rush to write an answer as such, “He disliked Tanya but she was also invited”, without carefully considering the full context of the passage. Proofreading provides students the opportunity to double-check their understanding of the question and rephrase their answers if needed.

Example of Misreading the Question:

• • Question: What is the main reason for John’s sudden refusal to attend the gathering?

• • Student answer: He disliked Tanya but she was also invited.
    Correction: The answer is vague and does not fully capture the essence of the issue. A more thoughtful response could be “He disliked Tanya and wished to avoid her. However, she was also invited to the gathering.”

2. Wrong Word Choice

Another mistake that students often make during exams is selecting the wrong word or using words that do not align with the passage’s meaning. For instance, if a student is asked to describe a person’s behaviour and chooses the word “lethargic”, even though the passage describes the person as “listless”, they have not fully understood the context. Proofreading may help students spot these issues and replace inappropriate words with ones that are more accurate (although they need to also have a stronger language sense).

3. Unclear or Vague Responses

Sometimes, students may write answers that are unclear or lack detail. For example, a vague response such as “The character shows kindness by smiling” does not provide enough specific information. Proofreading gives students the chance to reflect on their answers and expand upon their points, providing more specific examples or clearer explanations.

Example of Unclear Response:

• • The character shows kindness by smiling.
    Correction: The character shows kindness by helping others, offering them food, and smiling to lift their spirits.

4. Omitted Key Details

Omissions are another common issue that proofreading can address. Sometimes students may leave out important parts of their response, which can significantly reduce the quality of their answer. By revisiting their work, students can identify these gaps and add the necessary details to strengthen their response.

Example of Omitted Details:

• • Question: How does the character show kindness?

• • Student answer: “He helped a younger student on the first day of school.”
    Correction: He helped a younger student on the first day of school by giving him food and carrying his bulky bag.

General Proofreading Issues

1. Leaving Out Words

Omissions are another common mistake that can negatively impact a student’s performance. If students leave out essential words, the meaning of their sentences can become unclear or incomplete. Proofreading helps to ensure that no words are missing from sentences, providing a more coherent response.

Example of Missing Words:

• • She ran to the park was fast.
    Correction: She ran to the park and was fast.

2. Inconsistent Tense

Students may sometimes switch tenses incorrectly within a sentence or passage. For instance, the sentence “He eats his lunch and then he went to play” contains a tense shift from present (“eats”) to past (“went”). Proofreading ensures that tenses remain consistent throughout the writing, improving overall clarity and accuracy.

Example of Inconsistent Tense:

• • He eats his lunch and then he went to play.
    Correction: He eats his lunch and then he goes to play.

How Proofreading Affects Students’ Confidence and Exam Success

Proofreading is not just about catching errors; it also boosts students’ confidence in their work. When students take the time to review their answers, they can feel more assured that their responses are accurate and complete. This confidence can lead to better performance, as students are less likely to second-guess themselves during the exam. By proofreading, students can also identify areas of improvement in their writing or thinking, allowing them to enhance the quality of their responses.

In Creative Writing, for instance, students may realise they need to clarify certain points, adjust the flow of their story, or add more vivid details to strengthen their narrative. In English Paper 2, proofreading provides an opportunity to refine answers and ensure that arguments are fully supported with evidence or examples. This process not only improves the quality of responses but also ensures that students submit their best possible work.

The Need for a Balanced Approach

While primary school exams primarily focus on testing knowledge and understanding, proofreading is an essential skill that should not be overlooked. Simple issues like spelling, grammar, and clarity errors can greatly affect a student’s ability to achieve their full potential in Creative Writing and English Paper 2. By making proofreading a regular part of their exam preparation and strategy, students can minimise the impact of careless mistakes and improve the overall quality of their work. Through consistent practice, proofreading can become a vital tool for success, allowing students to gain confidence, reduce anxiety, and ultimately achieve better results in their exams.

During our lessons with our students, we emphasise the importance of proofreading and always encourage our students to be more careful. Courses at Writers Studio School of English can be found at https://www.writerstudio.com.sg/courses/

If you wish to find out more about your child’s potential to improve, we can arrange for our senior teachers to assess your child. Visit https://www.writerstudio.com.sg/free-diagnostic-session/