A checklist turns revision into five small checks in a fixed order. This lesson shows the order and applies it to an original draft.
It belongs to the SPM subjects and learning resources collection. If your reading answers also need support, see backing a reading answer with relevant evidence.
What is on the checklist?
- Task. Did I do what the question asked, in the form asked?
- Sentences. Is each one complete, with a clear doer and action?
- Word choice. Did I use the words I know well, and avoid guessing at words I am unsure of?
- Spelling. Have I checked the words I am least sure of against a reliable source?
- Read aloud. Does it sound right when I read it slowly, word by word?
Start at the top. Fix meaning before you fix spelling.
Worked example: an original draft
The draft is shown in English so the method is visible. On your paper you would check the same points in Semai.
Task (original). Write three sentences about your village or neighbourhood at the start of the day.
Draft. “Morning my village. People go river. Nice.”
Checklist pass:
| Point | Finding | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Task | Three short pieces, but only one gives a detail | Add a detail about what people do |
| Sentences | “Morning my village” and “Nice” lack an action | Give each a verb |
| Word choice | “Nice” is vague | Name what is nice |
| Spelling | Check in Semai | Ask a teacher |
| Read aloud | Sounds like notes | Join into sentences |
Revised draft. “In the morning my village is quiet. People walk to the river to wash and collect water. The air is cool and fresh.”
Each sentence now has a clear doer and an action, and the vague “nice” has become a specific detail.
The mistake: guessing at spelling
A common slip is to write a word you are unsure of the way it sounds and move on. The error then looks like a language mistake when it was a checking mistake.
Mark any word you are unsure of with a small dot. When you finish, check only those dotted words with a teacher or a trusted source. This keeps the check short and accurate.
A slow read-aloud
Read the response at half your normal speed, pointing to each word. A missing word or a wrong ending often gets skipped by eye but caught by voice.
If you stop, mark the spot. Then decide whether the problem is a missing word, a wrong form or a sentence that should be split.
What can be taught online?
Language explanation, reading and original writing practice can be covered in one-to-one online lessons, with feedback on your writing. The format of any assessment and any school-based tasks stay with the school and the examination authority, so confirm current details with your teacher.
Check yourself
Draft (original, in English). “I wake up. Go river.
Wash. Then come back home and eat.”
Use the checklist to name two fixes and write one improved sentence.
Answer
Fixes: several sentences have no doer (“Go river”, “Wash”), and the sentences are short and unconnected. A connector would join the actions.
Sample revision: “I wake up early and go to the river to wash. Then I come back home and eat.”
The same checks apply in Semai, where a teacher can confirm the correct forms.
What to study next
Keep the checklist beside you each time you write. Record which point you miss most with the structured-answer self-review tool.
If you want individual feedback on your drafts, see online one-to-one Semai tuition.