Improve Your GATE Writing Skills: Top Tips from Past Markers

The blank page, the ticking clock, the pressure to be brilliant—it's no wonder the Communicating Ideas in Writing section of the ASET can feel like the biggest hurdle. With just 25 minutes to create something from scratch, it's a unique challenge. But here's the secret: this test isn't about being a perfect writer. It's about being an interesting thinker. It's your chance to show the markers your unique personality and creativity, so let's dive into a strategy that works.

First, Understand What Really Matters

Forget what you know about school essays. The ASET markers are not focused on perfect grammar or rigid formats. They are looking for a spark. Here's what will make your piece stand out:

• Originality: A fresh perspective that avoids the most obvious, cliché ideas.
• Coherent Structure: Writing that has a sense of direction with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Prompt Connection: It must be obvious that your writing was inspired by the stimulus (the image or text provided).

4 Actionable Writing Strategies

1. Brainstorm First, Write Second (The Golden 3-5 Minutes)

Resist the urge to start writing immediately. The best stories are planned, even if just for a few moments.

• Jot down 3 quick angles for the prompt. Your first idea is what everyone thinks of. Your third idea is where the magic usually is.
• Choose the most unexpected idea and sketch a super-quick story arc: Setup → Problem → Solution.

2. Hook Them Immediately

Your first sentence is your first impression. Make it count.

❌ Instead of: "One day I went to the beach and saw something in the water."

✅ Try this: "The salt-stained letter trembled in my hands as the waves tried to snatch back the secret they'd carried for so long."

❌ Instead of: "My grandmother told me an interesting story."

✅ Try this: "Grandma's fingers traced the faded photograph as she whispered, 'This is the day everything changed.'"

3. Show, Don't Tell

Don't just state a feeling; bring it to life with actions and details. Let the reader feel it with you.

❌ Telling: "He was scared."

✅ Showing: "His knuckles whitened around the flashlight, his breath catching every time a new shadow slithered along the damp wall."

❌ Telling: "She was angry."

✅ Showing: "The pen snapped in half between her fingers, ink bleeding across the page like her fury made visible."

❌ Telling: "The house was old and creepy."

✅ Showing: "Paint peeled from the shutters like dead skin, and each step on the porch sent a groan echoing through the hollow bones of the house."

4. Zoom In on a Single, Powerful Moment

You can't write an epic novel in 25 minutes, so don't try. The most impactful pieces often focus on one small, significant moment in time.

• Instead of writing the entire story of a plane crash and survival, focus only on the moment the survivor finds a tattered family photo in the wreckage.
• By focusing on a small moment, you can fill it with rich detail and emotion, making it far more memorable than a rushed, sprawling story.

What NOT to Do: The Common Traps to Avoid

• Don't Use a Pre-Planned Story: Markers can spot this a mile away. Trying to force a story you memorised to fit a new prompt always feels clunky and disconnected. Be brave and create something new on the day.

• Don't Just Describe the Prompt: If you get a picture of a forest, don't just write, "There are tall trees, green leaves, and a path." Use the forest as a setting for a story or a symbol for a feeling.

• Don't Panic if You Don't Finish: A well-written, thoughtful, and slightly unfinished piece is much better than a rushed story with a weak, tacked-on ending. Quality is always better than quantity.

Final Thoughts

At its heart, this isn't just a writing test; it's a thinking test. It's a chance to show your creativity under pressure. The markers want to be surprised, engaged, and intrigued. Trust your unique voice, tell the story only you can tell, and let your brilliant ideas shine through. You've got this! 🌟