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SCMP Reporter

HKCEE candidates are urged to use shorter sentences when taking the English exam. Tune in to Preparing for Exams for more tips Students sitting for their English Paper 1 (Essay) in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) should use simple sentences to avoid errors.

   This is the advice of Rex King, deputy secretary of the Hong Kong Examinations Authority.

  It's one of the useful points he makes in his second programme in the Preparing for Exams series, on RTHK Radio 4 from 6.30 pm to 7 pm tonight.

   'The general rule for second language students . . . is that if you have a choice between a very complicated and a simple word, it is generally better to use the simple word.

  'The reason for that is that using the complicated word will be demanding.

  'Normally when using complicated words in English . . . you have to be very careful to make sure that the situation, the context, is right for the word.

  'No problem if you use that word correctly, but the more complicated the word is, the more difficult it is to use it correctly.

  'So, on the whole, I would prefer to use straightforward language and then you are more likely to use the right word in the right place,' says Mr King.

  The top examiner says students should also avoid using idioms or cliches like 'in a nutshell', 'to cut a long story short' and 'burning the midnight oil'.

  'Don't put them in because they don't help at all. In fact they harm your chances of getting good marks,' he said.

  'The tutorial schools teach them to do these things, but actually we hate these phrases and you should avoid them. Often they are used wrongly.'   Mr King issues a strong warning about memorising paragraphs or even whole essays.

  The markers can detect when this happens and draw the attention of the Examination Authority. If the whole composition is memorised, students can end up with a zero.

  'When you write an essay for the exam, either Chinese or English, you are supposed to be giving us your own work . . . it is a creative thing.

  'We want to test your ability to write in the language yourself. It is not a test in dictation.'   The warnings are:    Do not try to impress the exam marker with big words and long sentences.

   Do not think it is clever to use tired old phrases like 'firstly', 'secondly' and 'moreover' - native English speakers rarely ever use them.

   Do not copy the exaggerated and melodramatic expressions of television soap opera.

   Do not be tempted to memorise someone else's words and try to slip them into your own essay.

  There are no short-cuts - the best way to prepare for the paper is to practise writing, reading, listening to and speaking English every day.



Keep it simple to be safe