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KS3

Writing Properly

Question

Will you be marked down for poor handwriting/sentence structure in exams?

2 years ago

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191 Replies

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12601 views

J

Jameson Kassulke



191 Answers

D
Daanyaal Imtiyaz

generally no, but try to make it readable. structure is always important although it may not affect your grades themselves, without it you could confuse yourself

Shreya S Profile Picture
Shreya S Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Oxford educated tutor, specialist of Modern Languages and English Lit

Poor handwriting that is illegible and inhibits the examiner from understanding what has been written would be marked down. However, generally untidy handwriting will not be marked down as long as it is clearly legible.


In terms of poor sentence structure, it is likely that this will be marked down as it demonstrates a lack of grammatical understanding.

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Alan M Profile Picture
Alan M Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

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Yes! Always look to include clear and legible handwriting and a solid sentence structure to fully reflect your ability in the subject.

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T
Tom Burkill

As long as your handwriting is fairly legible then you won't be marked down. Bad sentence structure, however, will be marked down.

H
Heather Teague

You wouldn't be marked down for poor handwriting, but an examiner may miss important points you have made in your answer if it isn't legible, so it is important that your handwriting is clear enough to understand.

For the sentence structure, you will be marked on this in writing tasks and sometimes in a literature essay, but otherwise it is mainly just important for clarity in your answers.

Stacey D Profile Picture
Stacey D Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

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Poor handwriting depends on the severity. If it is illegible, it won’t be possible to mark properly so will lose marks. A computer should be used for exams and schoolwork in this instance. Poor sentence structure will affect meaning so will make getting marks more challenging in all elements of exams other than low value questions. However, marks are only awarded separately to content in writing elements of English exams and for a small fraction of English Literature exams. It is important tor life, though, so always a good idea to improve!

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M
Maryam Abdmumin-Erinoso

Yes, poor handwriting is essential as it will make your work readable to the reader and a poor sentence structure as well can hinder the reader from understanding the content. Without these key parts in your work, you would not be able to communicate as understanding is key in communication.

Roxanne B Profile Picture
Roxanne B Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

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You will not be marked down for poor handwriting in your exams. Examiners are obligated to do their best to read what's been written. If any of your ideas are illegible you will not be awarded marks for them for the simple reason that they cannot be read. You will be marked down in the English exams for poor sentence structure. In both English Literature and English Language exams not only are there specific marks available for sentence structures but there are also implicit marks available. In other words, in your English exams it is best that you communicate as clearly as possible. Higher attaining candidates are advised to use a range of structures to create different effects on the reader.

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R
Rachel Daniels

You won’t necessarily be marked down. However, if an examiner cannot understand or read your writing, you will only be marked on what they can read. It’s definitely within your best interests to make your writing as clear as you can!

Charlene A Profile Picture
Charlene A Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

15 Years Experience of GCSE English and AQA English Examiner

Poor handwriting can't be 'marked down' but put it this way - if examiners can't read a word or string of words, then you miss out on potential marks! Writing an amazing A02 argument that is lost in illegible handwriting would be a waste of your time, since the examiner has way too many papers to mark to spend time cracking the code of your sentence.. Dodgy sentence structures on the other hand, could be perceived as poor grammar skills by the examiner which means AO4 marks could be at risk.

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D
Daisy D

Hi Jameson, you will not be marked down for poor hand writing but it does need to be legible. So as long as your hand writing can be read, you will be fine. If not, this may be something you might want to spend some time practicing. Sentence structure will be taken in to account by the examiner as this will show that you can structure your work clearly use a variety or punctuation and create a certain effect in creative/personal writing.

Laura Profile Picture
Laura Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Experienced English language and literature teacher

You will not be marked down for poor handwriting.

You will be marked down for poor sentence structure, but this only makes up a section of your marks. You get marks for your content (what you write about) and your writing accuracy (spelling, sentence structure and grammar etc.).

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E
Esme Chapelle

While you won't be marked down for poor handwriting, illegible handwriting will make your work hard to read. If examiners are not able to read your answer, even if it were correct, you would lose marks. Having poor sentence structure may lose you marks, but it depends on the subject. In a subject like science, you can write long answers in bullet points and simple sentences as the content is more important than your written communication. But, in an essay subject like English, they will mark you on your sentence structures in the creative writing questions, and having clear written communication will aid your answer and make it more convincing.


To conclude, make sure your handwriting is readable, otherwise it is not a concern. Next, focus on improving your sentence structure for essay subjects as, even when they are not directly marked like in a creative writing question, your answers being written well will improve the examiner's judging of your work.

Caroline S Profile Picture
Caroline S Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

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You will not be marked down for poor handwriting as long as it is legible. Examiners do their best to read your writing and are not allowed to withhold credit for this. However, you will lose marks for poorly constructed sentences, and for lack of variety in sentence types.

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B
Becky Oliver

you may get marked down if it’s not able to be read. It’s important to get sentence structure correct

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