In Year 10, I was frustrated. My end of year report card was a mix of mid B grades and high C grades, including English, with the occasional A appearing here and there. I knew I could do better, but trying to improve in English felt intangible and unpredictable. Unlike maths or science, there was no formula, no neat pathway, no “just study harder”.  

Fast forward two years. I was internally ranked 1st in English. I consistently scored in the high 90s for both in-class assessments and take-home assignments. The improvement was REAL, and to be honest, very satisfying. 

Here’s exactly how it happened. 

‍

Step 1: Mastering the Feedback Loop

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this:
Use feedback properly.

‍

1. Identify the recurring problem

In the beginning, my essays were stuck in the high C or low B range. I thought my arguments were clear, but in reality I was not analysing deeply enough or linking ideas strongly back to my thesis. I lacked structural rigour. Every comment from my teacher was not random. It was a diagnosis.

Whenever my teacher wrote comments like “needs stronger linkage” or “elaborate further”, I did not just fix that single sentence. I looked for the underlying issue. In my case, it was weak connective language, insufficient analysis, and unclear thesis links.

‍

2. Clarify the feedback 

The crucial next step was meticulously processing the feedback. Feedback is meant to be constructive, and it becomes very actionable when clarified with the teacher or a tutor who understands the comments, or even better, both. 

I began asking questions such as:

• What exactly is missing here?
• What would this look like if it were done well?
• Is this problem structural or stylistic?

I stopped looking only at the final score and started treating every red pen mark from my teacher as valuable, actionable data. For example, if a comment said, "Lack of sophisticated linkage," I didn't just correct that one line. I identified the root problem and practised writing better links in the analysis of every piece of textual evidence. I treated each essay as a prototype, not a final product.

‍

3. Take targeted action 

The improvement phase involved immediate, targeted action. Before every new essay, I created a focused checklist based entirely on past feedback. For example: 

• Use at least three strong analytical verbs
• Link every paragraph clearly back to the thesis
• Avoid passive voice

This process was cyclical: the new essay inevitably exposed a different weakness (e.g. poor integration of quotes), which then became the focus of the next feedback loop. Each essay became a prototype. Each prototype revealed a new weakness to fix next time. 

By systematically and consistently addressing one weakness at a time, my grades eventually climbed to a consistent A. 

‍

Step 2: Adapting fully to the Question 

Here is a difficult truth I wish I had learned earlier: 

If you do not answer the question, you will NOT score an A. 

Honestly, improving my English wasn't only about reading feedback more attentively; it was also about getting super strategic with the exam itself. The first, and maybe hardest thing I learned was to totally adapt to the question. If you don’t answer the question, you will be stuck at a mid-C or a low-B even if your essay was astoundingly good. You just can't dump a memorised essay onto the page. 

‍

1. Break down the question immediately 

I now immediately break down the prompt's key words to make sure I’m shaping my knowledge to fit exactly what the teacher is asking for. If I don't, the whole thing is irrelevant.

2. Relentlessly answer the question 

I also make sure to relentlessly return to the thesis from start to finish. I check every single paragraph to make sure it links right back to my main thesis. Tangents gain no marks. 

3. Use synonyms from the question 

And the biggest hack? Nailing the marking criteria with synonyms of the question. Now, I use the marking guide like a checklist, actively trying to show off those high-level skills. For example, the 2025 HSC Common Module question referred to the “endurance of the human spirit”. It is essential that throughout the entire essay, the student uses relevant synonyms such as “rigorous strength of the human psyche” or the “fortitude” and “resilience” built by recovering and enduring different circumstantial human experiences. This shows the marker that you are not reciting a rehearsed response. Instead you are shaping your argument around the actual question, which matches the marking criteria.

‍‍

Step 3: Time Management in Exam Conditions 

Next in line is learning how to manage time under the pressure and stress of exam conditions. I have seen many students, including my past self, run out of time in the middle of a paragraph. 

‍

1. Allocate time based on marks 

I have found that breaking down the exam time is the most critical time management step. For an English exam, this means knowing the value of each section, such as how many marks a comprehension (short answer) question is worth compared to the essay section. If an essay is worth 50% of the grade, I make sure to allocate at least 50% of the working time to it, perhaps even slightly more. 

2. Always leave a buffer

I always give myself a small buffer at the end, say two minutes, to quickly read over my answers and make any amendments, including adding “to what extent” and answering the question more directly. 

3. Manage stress before it manages you 

Then comes the stress. When it comes to emotional pressure, my strategy is to first recognise it, not fight it. Feeling nervous is normal! I tackle this by using a few simple calming techniques right before I start. Taking a couple of deep, slow breaths really helps clear my head. Once the exam starts, I make sure to read the entire paper thoroughly before picking up my pen. This initial overview helps me feel in control as I have a clear plan. This, in turn, stops me from mind-blanking and forgetting my memorised quotes, techniques and analysis. It also immediately reduces anxiety. I remind myself that I've prepared well, and all I can do now is my best. 

‍

English is Not an Impossible Subject 

If I could go back two years, I would remind myself of three things:

1. Master the feedback loop. Your teacher’s comments are a roadmap, not a judgement.
2. Adapt everything to the question. High-scoring writing is responsive, not memorised.
3. Manage time and emotions with intention. A calm plan produces clarity.

I am proof that improvement in English is not mysterious and not reserved for a select few. It is learnable, replicable, and achievable.

You can absolutely do it too!!