1Clear, Formal English
The paper is not testing ornate vocabulary but clarity and control. Plain, precise, well-structured English serves policy writing better than long or elaborate sentences.
Writing That Reads Professionally
- Prefer clear, direct sentences over long, convoluted ones.必考
- Use precise vocabulary; avoid vague filler and needless jargon.
- Signpost with structure — headings or clear paragraphing guide the reader.比較
- Proofread for grammar and spelling; frequent errors undermine credibility.易錯
Style
Shorter sentences are easier to control under time pressure and are less likely to contain errors. When in doubt, split a long sentence in two.
2The Right Tone
Policy advice has a distinctive register: measured, balanced and objective. The tone should convey authority without overstatement, and fairness without indecision.
A Professional Register
- Keep the tone measured and objective, avoiding emotive or sensational language.必考
- Be balanced in presenting options, yet decisive in the recommendation.比較
- Avoid absolute claims and overstatement that the evidence cannot support.易錯
- Write as an adviser to a decision-maker, not as an advocate or a campaigner.
Register
Imagine you are briefing a senior official who must act on your words. That mental frame naturally produces the balanced, confident tone the paper rewards.
3Time Management Across Two Papers
With three hours split between Chinese and English papers, time discipline is decisive. A well-analysed paper that runs out of time before the recommendation loses its most important marks.
Budgeting the Three Hours
- Agree a time split between the two papers in advance and hold to it.必考
- Within each paper, cap reading and planning so writing is not squeezed.
- Watch the clock at checkpoints, and move on even if a section feels unfinished.易錯
- Reserve a few minutes at the end for proofreading each paper.
Time discipline
If time runs short, deliver a complete but concise recommendation rather than an elaborate analysis with no conclusion. Finishing beats polishing.
