Mark Scheme Secrets: What Examiners Reward in Persuasive Writing

Turn the mark scheme into actions: know what’s rewarded, avoid common penalties, and follow a reliable timing plan.

What Examiners Reward

Clear Viewpoint

A confident stance stated early and sustained throughout.

Audience-Aware Tone

Formal for authority; inclusive and energetic for peers.

Logical Structure

Introduction, reasons with evidence, counter, strong conclusion.

Effective Devices

Rhetorical questions, rule of three, facts, anecdote—used judiciously.

Accuracy & Range

Paragraphing, varied sentences, accurate punctuation and spelling.

Cohesion

Signposting, connectives, and topic sentences that guide the reader.

Common Reasons for Lost Marks

❌ No clear stance; wandering between sides

❌ Overly casual/angry tone for the audience

❌ Repetition of one idea without fresh reasons

❌ Exaggerated/fake facts that break credibility

❌ Missing conclusion or call to action

Timing Plan that Fits the Mark Scheme

3 mins planning: stance, 3 reasons, evidence, counter, CTA
15–18 mins writing: intro + 3 PEEL paragraphs + counter + conclusion
2–4 mins editing: tone, connectives, punctuation, final line

Self-Assessment Mini-Rubric

□Viewpoint clear from the start
□Audience-appropriate tone and register
□Each paragraph adds a new reason + evidence
□Counter-argument acknowledged and answered
□Accurate punctuation, varied sentences
□Clear, confident final call to action

Quick Practice

Task: Take your last persuasive paragraph and score it using the mini-rubric above. Improve one sentence for tone, one for evidence, and one connective for cohesion.