Editing means checking a finished answer against the question, not just fixing spelling. Four quick passes, each looking for one kind of problem, find more than one slow reread.
What are the four passes?
Pass one checks the task: does the answer do what the command word asks? Pass two checks content: is each point relevant and supported? Pass three checks clarity: are sentences complete and in order? Pass four checks accuracy: spelling, numbers, units and names.
Doing them in this order matters. There is no point polishing a sentence that should be deleted.
Worked example
Here is an original question and answer.
Question (4 marks): Explain two ways a school can reduce electricity use.
Answer: Schools use a lot of electricity. The school can switch off fans and lights when classrooms are empty. Electricity is expensive and bills go up every year. Also use solar panels.
Apply the passes.
| Pass | What it finds | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Task | Two ways are asked for, each to be explained | Explain each way, not only name it |
| Content | Sentences 1 and 3 are background and earn nothing | Delete both |
| Clarity | “Also use solar panels” is a fragment | Make it a full sentence with a reason |
| Accuracy | No errors found | Keep |
The edited answer is as follows.
The school can switch off fans and lights when classrooms are empty, which stops electricity being used when nobody needs it. The school can also install solar panels, which produce electricity from sunlight and reduce the amount bought from the grid.
Each way now has a statement and an explanation, which matches the four marks.
What does the common mistake look like?
The student rereads only for spelling and feels finished. The answer still contains two sentences of background that took time and earned nothing, and one of the two required ways is never explained.
The correct approach is to start the edit with the task, not the spelling. A mark allocation of four with two ways asked usually means two points, each worth two marks.
Steps to follow
- Reread the question and underline the command word and any number.
- Count the points your answer makes and compare with what is asked.
- Delete anything that does not answer, then fix sentences, then fix spelling and units.
Self-check
Edit this original answer to the question: “Describe two effects of deforestation on a river. (4 marks)”
Deforestation is a serious problem in Malaysia. Trees are cut down for timber. Soil is washed into the river and it becomes muddy. More floods happen.
Answer
Task: describe two effects on a river. Sentences 1 and 2 are background and earn nothing.
“It becomes muddy” is effect one but needs a cause-and-effect link: without tree roots, rain washes soil into the river, making it muddy. “More floods happen” is effect two but needs a reason: muddy silt raises the riverbed, so the river overflows more easily.
Where to go next
Editing works best when the earlier skills are in place: a clear task reading and a full claim, reason and example. The structured answer self-review walks you through the four passes on your own work. The writing foundations hub lists the other skills.