These six tasks are original. They ask you to rank errors, write log entries, plan a timed set and state goals. Write your answer first, then open the explanation.
The lessons are in language practice and revision. For practice against the clock, use the timed original practice session builder.
Questions 1 to 3: errors and logs
Question 1. Rank these errors for revision: A) அவர்கள் வந்தாள் (plural subject, singular verb) three times, B) பலம் for பழம் once, C) missing sandhi in கதவை திறந்தான் twice.
Answer
Rank A first: three repeats and it changes who acts. C second: two repeats; the correct form is கதவைத் திறந்தான். B last: one repeat, though the slip changes the word, so fix it after the others.
The correct form for A is அவர்கள் வந்தார்கள் (they came).
Question 2. Write a mistake log entry for நான் நாளை பள்ளிக்குப் போனேன். (I went to school tomorrow.)
Answer
Wrote: நான் நாளை பள்ளிக்குப் போனேன்.
Correct: நான் நாளை பள்ளிக்குப் போவேன். (I will go to school tomorrow.)
Rule: a future time word needs a future verb, -வேன், not a past one.
Question 3. Why is the rule “be careful with verbs” a weak log entry?
Answer
It does not say what to do. A useful rule is an action, for example “check that the verb tense matches the time word”. You can follow that in the next sentence you write.
Questions 4 to 6: timing and goals
Question 4. You have 20 minutes for a passage, two reading questions and a three-sentence writing task. Give a time split.
Answer
One reasonable split: 4 minutes to read, 7 minutes for the two answers, 6 minutes for the writing, 3 minutes to check. Any split that keeps a checking slot is acceptable. The 3-minute check catches verb endings and sandhi.
Question 5. After a timed set, your writing has four verb-ending errors and the reading answers are all correct. What goal do you set?
Answer
A goal for verb endings: write ten sentences with mixed subjects and check that every ending matches. The reading answers need no goal now. The error list shows the language slip is the lost mark.
Question 6. Rewrite “I want a better grade” as a goal for a paid trial.
Answer
Name a skill with evidence, such as: “Connect my sentence pairs with correct cause and contrast words. My last two paragraphs had none.” Bring that paragraph to the trial. A grade is an outcome, and a skill is something a teacher can train.
If you got these wrong
- Questions 1 to 3: read building a revision sequence and keeping a mistake log.
- Questions 4 and 5: read practising a timed reading-and-writing set.
- Question 6: read preparing learning goals.
For a teacher to read your error list, see online one-to-one SPM Bahasa Tamil tuition.