IGCSE English 0510 · Common mistakes
Common mistakes in 0510 writing (Exercises 5 and 6)
Updated · by the Fahmazing team
These are the mistakes we see most often when students write emails, articles, reports, essays and reviews in our lessons. Each one has a simple fix.
Using the wrong register
Exercise 5 is written to a friend or relative, so it should sound friendly: contractions, a warm opening and a chatty tone. Exercise 6 is for a teacher, an organiser or readers you do not know, so avoid slang and text-speak.
Opening a formal email to a club organiser
✗ Wrong: Hey! Hope ur good. So basically I wanna join.
✓ Right: Dear Mr Hassan, I am writing to ask about joining the photography club.
Free lessons: Purpose, audience and register · Informal email · Formal and semi-formal email · Formal and informal English
Missing a prompt
Each task lists points to cover. If one is missing, your content mark drops however good your English is. Tick each prompt in your plan, then tick it again when you have written it.
Free lessons: Covering every prompt and planning · From task to plan in five minutes
Listing instead of developing
A prompt answered in one short sentence is covered but not developed. Add a reason, an example or a result to each point.
Prompt: say what you enjoyed about the trip
✗ Wrong: I enjoyed the museum.
✓ Right: I enjoyed the museum most, especially the space room, because we could try on a real astronaut's helmet.
Free lesson: Developing ideas with reasons and examples
Writing far too much or too little
The task asks for 120–160 words. Too few usually means ideas are not developed. Far too many means more chances for errors and less time to check. Aim for about 150 words and count roughly by lines.
Free lesson: Word count and editing: 120–160 words
Forgetting the format
- An article needs a title that makes people want to read.
- A report can use a title and short headings, and ends with a recommendation.
- A review says what it is, what was good or bad, and whether you recommend it.
- An essay gives both sides or a clear opinion, with a conclusion.
Free lessons: Article · Report · Review · Essay: discursive and argumentative
Small errors that add up
Leave three minutes to proofread. Check verb tenses, subject–verb agreement (he goes, not he go), articles, capital letters and full stops between sentences.
Free lessons: Proofreading: common errors · Articles, countable nouns and agreement