Common Weaknesses and How to Fix Them

Every Section B candidate has weaknesses. The difference between well-prepared and poorly-prepared candidates is not the absence of weaknesses — it is the awareness of them and the effort to address them. This lesson identifies the most common weaknesses in Section B essays and provides specific, actionable strategies for fixing each one.

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Weakness 1: Waffle

What It Looks Like

Waffle is writing that uses many words without saying much. It fills space but does not advance the argument. Readers — especially admissions tutors who read hundreds of essays — recognise it instantly.

Examples of waffle:

"This is a very important topic that has been debated for many years by many different people from many different perspectives."

"It is clear that there are numerous arguments both for and against this position, and it is important to consider all of them carefully before reaching a conclusion."

These sentences contain no information. They could be removed without any loss.

Why It Happens

• Anxiety about word count — You feel you need to reach 500 words and pad to get there
• Uncertainty about your argument — When you are not sure what to say, you say nothing at length
• Habit — Many school essays reward length over quality, training students to pad

How to Fix It

Strategy	Implementation
The deletion test	After writing each sentence, ask: "If I deleted this, would the essay lose anything?" If no, delete it.
Front-load your arguments	Make your point in the first sentence of each paragraph. If the first sentence is substantive, the rest of the paragraph can develop it rather than circling around it.
Increase evidence	Waffle often fills the space that evidence should occupy. If you have nothing to say, you need a better example — not more words.
Plan more thoroughly	Waffle is almost always a planning problem. If your plan contains enough material, you will not need to pad.

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Weakness 2: One-Sided Arguments

What It Looks Like

The essay presents only arguments in favour of the chosen position, ignoring or dismissing all opposing views. There is no counterargument paragraph. The essay reads as advocacy rather than analysis.

Why It Happens

• Fear that acknowledging the other side will weaken the argument — This is false. Engagement with counterarguments strengthens your essay.
• Failure to plan a counterargument — If it is not in the plan, it will not appear in the essay.
• Running out of time — The counterargument paragraph is often the first casualty of poor time management.

How to Fix It

Strategy	Implementation
Always include a counterargument in your plan	Make it a non-negotiable part of your planning template
Practise the concession-rebuttal structure	Present the opposing view fairly, concede what is valid, then explain why your position prevails
Protect counterargument time	If you reach the 21-minute mark of the writing phase and have not started the counterargument, begin it immediately — even if your second body paragraph is not fully developed
Use the building-both-sides approach	During planning, map arguments on both sides before choosing your position. The opposing arguments become your counterargument material.

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Weakness 3: Weak Conclusions

What It Looks Like

The conclusion merely repeats the introduction, trails off without resolution, or introduces new arguments that cannot be developed.

Weak conclusion examples:

"In conclusion, this is a very complex issue with strong arguments on both sides."

"To sum up, I believe the voting age should be lowered because of the arguments I have discussed above."

"Only time will tell what the right answer is."

Why It Happens

• Running out of time — The most common cause
• Running out of energy — After 30+ minutes of writing, mental fatigue sets in
• Not knowing what a conclusion should do — Many candidates have never been taught the difference between a summary and a synthesis

How to Fix It

Strategy	Implementation
Include a conclusion direction in your plan	A single word or phrase reminding you how to end — "reframe as democracy question" or "broader implication: precedent for other rights"
Protect conclusion time	At 32 minutes (total), start the conclusion regardless of where you are in the body
Memorise the emergency conclusion formula	Restate thesis (1 sentence) + synthesise (1 sentence) + elevating finish (1 sentence). Three sentences, under 60 seconds.
Practise conclusions in isolation	Write conclusions for hypothetical essays as a standalone exercise. This builds the skill without the fatigue of a full essay.

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Weakness 4: Poor Signposting

What It Looks Like

The essay lacks clear transitions between paragraphs. The reader cannot follow the logical progression. Paragraphs begin abruptly or with vague connections.

Poor signposting:

[End of paragraph 2:] "...this is clearly a significant benefit." [Start of paragraph 3:] "Another thing to consider is the economic impact."

Good signposting:

[End of paragraph 2:] "...this is clearly a significant benefit." [Start of paragraph 3:] "Beyond the social advantages, the economic case for reform is equally compelling."

Why It Happens