Proper punctuation is crucial for clarity and readability. Examiners expect you to use punctuation marks like commas, full stops, and apostrophes correctly.

Commas: Use commas to separate clauses in complex sentences or to mark off non-essential information.

• Example: “The government, despite its efforts, has failed to address the issue effectively.”

Full Stops: Ensure that you do not create run-on sentences. Each sentence should be complete and separated by a full stop.

• Example:

Incorrect: “The government is responsible for environmental policy it has not done enough to address the problem.”

Correct: “The government is responsible for environmental policy. However, it has not done enough to address the problem.”

Apostrophes: Use apostrophes to indicate possession or contractions.

• Example: “It’s clear that the policy hasn’t worked as expected.”

Misuse of punctuation, such as forgetting commas in complex sentences or creating run-on sentences, can confuse the reader and lower your score.