Tips and guidelines for Paper 1: Section A and Section B

1. “ START WRITING, NO MATTER WHAT.
THE WATER DOES NOT FLOW UNTIL THE
FAUCET IS TURNED ON ”
PAPER 1
SECTION A
SECTION B
Prepared by Sir Firdaus

2. PAPER 1: SECTION A
i) Types of essay
a) Informal letter
b) Formal letter
c) Report
d) Speech
e) Article

3. PAPER 1: SECTION A
i) Marks
a) FORMAT 3 Marks
b) CONTENT 12 Marks
c) LANGUAGE 20 Marks
TOTAL 35 Marks

4. ii) Marking method for language
BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
A
19-20
• Language is accurate.
• Sentences are varied in structure, length and type for
effect.
• Vocabulary is wide, precise and sophisticated.
• Paragraphs have unity and are properly linked.
• Tone is appropriate to an/a informal letter/formal
letter/report/speech/article
B
16-18
• Language is almost always accurate (minor errors).
• Sentence structures are varied and interesting.
• Vocabulary is wide enough to convey intended shades of
meaning.
• Spelling is nearly always accurate.
• Paragraphs show unity and appropriately linked.
• Tone is appropriate to an/a informal letter/formal
letter/report/speech/article

5. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
C
13-15
• Language is generally accurate.
• Simple structures are accurate.
• Vocabulary is wide enough but some may lack precision.
• Paragraphs show unity and are appropriately linked.
• Tone may be inconsistent.
D
12-10
• Language is sufficiently accurate to communicate
meaning clearly.
• Patches of clear accurate language when used in simple
structures.
• Vocabulary is adequate, some may lack precision.
• Simple words are correctly spelt. Paragraphs may not be
properly linked.

6. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
E
7-9
• Errors are sufficiently frequent. Serious errors hamper
speed of reading but meaning is never in doubt.
• Some simple structures are accurate but not sustained.
• Vocabulary is limited or too simple.
• Simple words are correctly spelt.
• Paragraphs may lack unity. Linkers may be absent or
incorrectly used.
U(i)
4-6
• Frequent and serious ‘single word’ errors impede
reading but meaning is fairly clear.
• There may be a few simple and accurate sentences.
• Vocabulary is limited.
• Spelling errors are frequent.
• Paragraphs lack planning.

7. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
U(ii)
2-3
• Sense will be decipherable, but errors are multiple –
requiring rereading and reorganizing.
• There may be one or two accurate sentences.
• Makes little sense and barely comprehensible.
U(iii)
0-1
• Very little or no sense

8. PAPER 1: SECTION B
i) Types of essay
a) Expository/Factual essay
• Expository essay is a synonym for information.
• Expository essay is to expose.
• The information it contains is clear and concise.
• The writer’s job is to explain and inform without
offering an opinion or developing an argument.
• It is always written in the third person.

9. b) Narrative essay
• Narrative essay is synonym for story.
• Narrative essay is to tell someone about a story of
our own life or about someone else.
• The events are told in chronological order.
• You must tell the story in a very interesting way.
• You are encouraged to use descriptive language.
Use vivid verbs and colourful adjectives and
adverbs.
• Make your reader see, hear, feel, taste and touch
your story point of view.
• It is usually written in the first person.

10. c) Descriptive essay
• Descriptive is synonym for explain/ illustrate/ describe.
• Descriptive essay is to describe what you observe.
• A person, place, memory, experience or an object is described.
• You must “show” and not “tell” the readers.
I grew tired after dinner. – [Tell]
As I leaned back and rested my head against the top of the chair,
my eyelids began to feel heavy, and the edges of the empty plate
in front of me blurred with the white tablecloth. – [Show]
• It will enable the readers to imagine and experience for themselves.
• You are encouraged to use descriptive language. Use vivid verbs and
colourful adjectives and adverbs.
• Make your reader see, hear, feel, taste and touch your story point of
view.

11. d) Reflective essay
• Reflective essay is a synonym for
thoughtful/reasoning.
• Reflective essay is to describe.
• The information it contains is imagery or real.
• The writer’s job is not just to describe but to
evaluate feelings and findings from the
beginning of your experience until the end.
• It is always written in the first person.

12. d) Argumentative essay
• Argumentative is a synonym for
combative/contrary.
• Argumentative is to show that you have a valid
argument.
• The readers are presented with a choice to
agree or disagree with your argument.
• You must support your arguments with solid
evidence and facts.

13. ii) Marking method for language
BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
A
44-50
• Language – entirely accurate
• Sentences – varied in structure, length and type to
achieve a particular effect.
• Vocabulary – wide and precise
• Spelling – accurate
• Punctuation – accurate and helpful.
• Paragraphs – well-planned, have unity and properly
linked.
• Task fulfillment – topic well-addressed with consistent
relevance.
• Interest is aroused and sustained.

14. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
B
38-43
• Language – accurate, occasional minor errors.
• Sentences – some variations in length and type
including some complex structure.
• Vocabulary –wide enough to convey intended shades
of meaning.
• Spelling – nearly always accurate
• Punctuation –accurate and generally helpful.
• Paragraphs- show some planning, have unity and
appropriately linked.
• Task fulfillment – the writing is relevant to the topic.
• Interest is aroused and sustained.

15. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
C
32-37
• Language – largely accurate.
• Sentences – simple structures are accurate. Sentences
may show variety in structure and length but tend to
be of one type – monotonous.
• Vocabulary – sufficient to convey intended meaning
but may lack precision.
• Spelling – simple words are correctly spelt.
• Punctuation – generally helpful.
• Paragraphs – some planning and unity, although links
may be absent or inappropriate.
• Task fulfillment – the writing is relevant but may lack
originality.
• Some interest is aroused but not sustained

16. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
D
26-31
• Language – sufficiently accurate to communicate
meaning. Patches of clarity when simple sentences
and vocabulary are used.
• Sentences – some variety of sentence types and
length but the purpose is not clear.
• Vocabulary – usually adequate to show intended
meaning but inaccurate.
• Spelling – simple words spelt correctly.
• Punctuation – fairly helpful.
• Paragraphs – lack of planning or unity.
• Task fulfillment – topic is addressed with some
relevance.
• Lacks liveliness

17. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
E
20-25
• Language – meaning is never in doubt but errors are
sufficiently frequent to hamper reading.
• Sentences – simple structures may be accurate but
not sustained.
• Vocabulary – limited, too simple to convey precise
meaning or may be too ambitious but inaccurate.
• Spelling – simple words correctly spelt but frequent
errors making reading difficult.
• Punctuation – fairly helpful.
• Paragraphs – lack unity or haphazardly arranged.
• Task fulfillment – subject matter is only partially
relevant.
• Lacks liveliness.

18. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
U(i)
14-19
• Language – many serious errors of various kinds
throughout the script but meaning is fairly clear.
• The errors are mainly of single word type. They could
be corrected without rewriting the whole sentence.
• Sentences – simple and often repetitive.
• Vocabulary – frequent errors cause blurring.
• Spelling – frequent errors.
• Paragraphs – ignorant of rules.
• Paragraphs – haphazardly arranged, may be absent.
• Task fulfillment – limited subject matter or partially
treated.
• Interest is not aroused.

19. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
U(ii)
8-13
• Language – The readers are able to get some sense
but errors are multiple in nature; re-reading is
necessary.
• Sentences – only a few accurate sentences, however
simple.
• Sense – content may be comprehensible but high
frequency of errors distorts meaning.
• Task fulfillment – script may be far short of required
length.

20. BAND/MARK BAND DESCRIPTION
U(iii)
0-7
• Sense/task fulfillment – almost entirely impossible to
read.
• Make little or no sense

21. IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
The correct use of idiomatic expressions will earn you
merit points when you write your essays.
Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
1. ace get an "A" on a test,
homework assignment,
project, etc.
I heard that Susie aced
the test yesterday
2. as easy as a pie very easy The test was as easy as
a pie.
3. at the eleventh hour at the last minute; almost
too late.
He finished the project
at the eleventh hour
and he nearly lost his
job.

22. Idiomatic
expression
Meaning Example
4. all ears eager to hear what someone
has to say.
Tell me about your
latest trip overseas.
I’m all ears.
5. be broke be without money. I need to borrow
some money. I am
broke.
6. be on the go be very busy (going from one
thing or project to another).
I am very tired. I've
been on the go
since 5.00 a.m.
7. beat exhausted; very tired I need a break after
this. I'm beat!"
8. beat around the
bush
evade an issue; avoid giving
a direct answer.
Stop beating
around the bush!
Just tell me what
happened to my car.

23. Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
9. bite off more than
one can chew
take responsibility for more
than one can manage.
Mrs. Lee finds it difficult
to finish all her work. She
has bitten off more than
she could chew!"
10. blow one's top become extremely angry. My father blew his top
when he found out I had
taken his car without his
permission.
11. burn the midnight oil study/work all night or until
very late at night.
Johan is not ready for the
test. He will have to burn
the midnight oil."
12. call it a day stop work for the day. The labourers call it a day
after working for five
hours on the field.
13. can't make heads or
tails of something
can't understand something
at all; find something
confusing and illogical.
I cannot make heads or
tails of your notes. Were
you sleepy during the
class?

24. Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
14. catch one's eye attract one's
attention/interest.
This colourful advertisement
caught my eye when I was in
the bus.
15. change one's mind decide to do something
different from what had
been decided earlier.
David did not go to Australia.
He changed his mind when
he heard that his mother is
ill.
16. cost (someone) an
arm and a leg
cost a lot; be very
expensive.
This car costs him an arm
and a leg. He has to get
another job to help pay for
it.
17. couch potato someone who spends too
much time watching TV.
You are becoming a couch
potato. You need to get out
and do some exercise.
18. don't count your
chickens until
(before) they hatch
(they've hatched)
Don't assume that
something will happen
until it has happened.
I think you should not count
your chickens until they’ve
hatched. Wait till the boys
win the competition this
Sunday.

25. Idiomatic
expression
Meaning Example
19. drop someone a
line
write to someone Do drop me a line when
you have time.
20. drag one's feet take longer than
necessary to do
something.
Why are you dragging
your feet? You should
have finished your
homework by now.
21. an eager beaver a person who is always
willing to volunteer or
do extra work.
Rahim is an eager beaver.
He is the first to volunteer
for any job to be done.
22. feel blue feel sad and
depressed.
Rita is feeling blue
because she has not
heard from her boyfriend
for a long time.
23. fire someone dismiss someone from
a job because of poor
performance.
Lokman might be fired if
he continues to be late
for work.

26. Idiomatic
expression
Meaning Example
24. get it understand something
(often negative).
I don’t get it. Could you
please explain it to me
again?
25. get on one's nerves irritate someone; make
someone upset.
His constant chatter is
getting on my nerves. Please
tell him to keep quiet.
26. get out of hand: become out of control;
become badly managed.
The situation is getting out
of hand. The relief centre
can only hold forty people
but we have one hundred
people to care for.
27. give someone a hand i. help someone.
ii. applaud someone
Please give a hand to the
poor old lady. She is trying to
cross the road.
The gardener has done a
wonderful landscaping job.
Let’s give him a hand.

27. Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
28. hard-headed have one's hands full
stubborn; inflexible;
unwilling to change.
It’s pretty difficult to get
Simon to change his mind.
He is hard-headed.
29. have one's hands full extremely busy Peggy usually has her hands
full in the beginning of a
new school term.
30. in the black profitable; not showing a
financial loss.
The company is back in the
black after suffering from
great losses the last two
months.
31. in the red: unprofitable; showing a
financial loss.
The company is in the red.
We have to stop some of the
workers if the situation
continues.
32. keep an eye on check something
regularly.
Please keep an eye on the
children while I go to the
bank.

28. Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
33. keep one's fingers
crossed
hope for the best. He is keeping his fingers
crossed while waiting for the
results of his interview.
34. lend someone a hand help someone. Can you please lend a hand
at the relief centre for the
flood victims?
35. live from hand to
mouth
survive on very little
money; have only enough
money
to pay for basic needs.
Rose and the children live
from hand to mouth after
the fire destroyed their
house.
36. make a mountain out
of a molehill
make something seem
much more important
than it really is.
Susila is making a mountain
out of a molehill. I am sure
the boys are perfectly
capable of looking after
themselves.
37. make up one's mind decide what to do Moses has to make up his
mind whether to continue
his studies or take up a job.

29. Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
38. on the dot exactly at a given time. If you do not come on the
dot, we will leave without
you.
39. (on the) cutting
edge
using the most recent
technology
This car boasts of having a
cutting edge technology.
It has a computer and
tracking system.
40. pull someone's leg tease someone by
trying to make her/him
believe something
that's untrue.
Wesley pulled my leg
when he said that he had
quit his job to get
married.
41. rain or shine no matter what the
weather
"We're leaving for
Cameron Highlands, rain
or shine."
42. rain cats and dogs rain heavily It’s raining cats and dogs
now. You better leave
later.

30. Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
43. read someone's
mind:
know what someone is
thinking.
I can read your mind. I know
you are very hungry and I
have ordered pizza.
44. rub someone the
wrong way
irritate someone I cannot stand Robert. He
seems to rub me the wrong
way every time we discuss
something.
45. sleep on it take some time to think
about something before
making a decision.
You should sleep on it first
and we will discuss again
tomorrow.
46. To make his own bed;
now let him lie in it.
Someone has caused
his/her own problems;
he/she will have to solve
them himself/herself.
He insisted that he should
take up the project alone.
So, he has made his own
bed, let him lie in it.
47. under the weather ill; unwell. Susan was feeling under the
weather yesterday, so she
decided not to go to work.

31. Idiomatic expression Meaning Example
48. until you're blue in
the face
forever You can advise him until
you're blue in the face, but
he won’t change his ways.
49. wet behind the ears inexperienced and naive. I do not think Suresh is
suitable for this project. He is
still wet behind the ears,
having only joined us last
month.
50. wishy-washy: without an opinion of
one's own.
You better check with the
other members. John can be
wishy-washy at times.