Essential Tips to Master English Editing (feat. NEW PSLE 2025 CHANGES)

• Break It Down: Divide the passage into smaller sections or sentences. This makes it easier to spot errors without feeling overwhelmed.
• Check One Thing at a Time: On your first pass, you might focus solely on spelling mistakes. On the second pass, you can review grammar and sentence structure. This methodical approach ensures that you are not overwhelmed and miss out on any errors.
• Read Aloud: Reading the passage aloud softly can help you catch errors that you might miss when reading silently. It also helps you hear the rhythm and flow of the text, making awkward phrasings or mistakes more apparent.

Once you have identified the relevant errors, we can proceed to the next set of tips to help you tackle grammar and spelling mistakes respectively.

2. Sharpen Your Grammar Skills

A strong foundation in grammar is crucial for spotting errors and making the necessary corrections. Here are some key areas to focus on:

• Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure that the subject and verb in each sentence agree in number. For example, “He runs” is correct, while “He run” is not. (Singular vs Plural)
• Tenses: Pay close attention to verb tenses, making sure they are consistent throughout the passage. If the text is in the past tense, all actions should be described in the past tense unless there is a clear reason to switch.
• Pronouns: Check that pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender. For instance, “The pupils must bring its books” should be “The pupils must bring their books.” since the antecedent ‘the pupils’ is plural.
• Articles: Articles (“a,” “an,” “the”) can be tricky. Ensure they are used correctly and that countable and uncountable nouns are paired with the appropriate articles. For example, “a pair of thongs, an elephant, some of the furniture.”

3. Enhance Your Vocabulary and Spelling

A robust vocabulary and excellent spelling skills are vital for identifying and correcting mistakes effectively. These are some things you can do or need to take note of:

• Break Words into Syllables: Breaking a word into smaller parts (syllables) can make it easier to spell. For example: rekugnishion —> re/kug/ni/shion —> recognition. This will also help you to ensure that the corrected word has the same number of syllables as the error!
• Spelling Patterns: Learn and practise common spelling patterns and rules. For example, understanding when to double consonants such as “running” or the ‘i before e except after c’ rule can be very helpful for “believe” and “receive”.
• Synonyms and Antonyms: Expanding your vocabulary by learning synonyms and antonyms can also aid in spotting incorrect word choices.
• Read Widely: With more exposure through various media, be it a book, a video with subtitles, the more one chances upon or encounters a word, the more likely one will remember its spelling.

Last but not least, remember to practise! By doing practice exercises over time, you will surely develop a more intuitive sense of the errors.

Mastering Editing in your exams requires practice, patience, and a strategic approach. By developing a systematic approach, sharpening your grammar skills, and enhancing your vocabulary and spelling, you can improve your editing abilities significantly. Remember, consistent practice is key. The more you work on these skills, the more confident and proficient you’ll become. Good luck!