Writing band 7 → 8 transition — 10 common slips

Top 10 slips

1. Wishy-washy opinion

Before: "There are good points on both sides." After: "While both views have merit, the stronger argument lies with [side X] because [reason]."

2. Generic example

Before: "For example, many countries have this problem." After: "For example, Singapore's congestion pricing reduced rush-hour traffic by 30% within two years of implementation."

3. Word repetition (especially key terms)

Before: "Pollution causes health problems. Pollution damages environment. Pollution must be reduced." After: "Pollution causes health problems. This contamination also damages ecosystems. Such harm must be mitigated through coordinated action."

4. Basic linkers only

Before: "Firstly... Secondly... Finally... In conclusion..." After: "To begin with... Building on this... A further dimension is... Taking all factors into account..."

5. Article errors (a/an/the)

Before: "A informations are useful." / "The most of people agree." After: "Information is useful." / "Most people agree."

6. Subject-verb agreement

Before: "The number of students are increasing." / "A series of events have..." After: "The number of students is increasing." / "A series of events has..."

Rule: "number of X" + singular verb. "A series of" + singular.

7. Mixing tenses

Before: "The study showed that students learn better when they had access to technology." After: "The study showed that students learned better when they had access to technology." (all past)

8. Awkward complex sentence (band 7 attempts complexity, but wrong)

Before: "Although while many people think that, but others disagree." After: "Although many people think this, others disagree." (drop "while" + "but" — one connector enough)

9. Underdeveloped body paragraph