● Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages):
○ Core Skill: The ability to understand and interpret text that you have not encountered before.
○ Key Strategies: Active reading involves scanning for general understanding and skimming for specific details. Identifying the main idea, supporting arguments, author's tone, and vocabulary in context are crucial.
○ Note-Making: Remember the standard format: main heading, sub-headings (at least two for each main), clear indentation, use of recognizable abbreviations (at least four), and a title. Ensure the summary is concise (around 50 words), captures the essence of the passage, and is written in prose.
○ Common Pitfalls: Not reading the passage thoroughly before attempting questions; misinterpreting questions; simply copying sentences from the passage instead of rephrasing answers in your own words; failing to identify the main idea for the summary.

● Creative Writing Skills:
○ Core Skill: Articulating ideas clearly, coherently, and appropriately for various formal and informal contexts. Adherence to prescribed formats and word limits is essential.
○ Key Formats to Master:
■ Notices, Advertisements (Classified & Display), Posters: Focus on conciseness, clarity, necessary details, appropriate persuasive language (for display ads/posters), and strict adherence to format (box for notices/ads, catchy visuals for posters).
■ Letters (Formal): Know the layout (sender's address, date, receiver's address, salutation, subject, body, complimentary close, sender's name/designation). Practice different types: business letters, letters to the editor, inquiry, complaint, job application. Focus on formal tone, polite yet firm language, and logical progression of ideas.
■ Speeches & Debates: Understand the structure (introduction, body with arguments, conclusion). For speeches, engage the audience. For debates, present arguments for/against logically, with counter-arguments. Use rhetorical devices effectively.
■ Articles & Reports: Focus on clear introduction, well-developed body paragraphs (each dealing with a specific point), and a concise conclusion. Reports require factual, objective reporting. Articles can be more expressive but must be well-structured.
○ Common Pitfalls: Exceeding word limits; incorrect formats; using informal language in formal contexts; lack of coherence; grammatical errors.

● Grammar:
○ Core Skill: Applying grammatical rules accurately to construct meaningful and correct sentences.
○ Key Areas:
■ Tenses: Review all forms (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous) and their appropriate usage based on time and action.
■ Modals: Understand the specific functions of each modal (e.g., 'can' for ability, 'must' for compulsion, 'may' for possibility).
■ Determiners: Distinguish between 'a/an/the', 'much/many', 'few/a few/the few', 'little/a little/the little', 'some/any'.
■ Voice (Active/Passive): Practice transforming sentences, paying attention to changes in verb form and subject-object relationship.
■ Reported Speech: Master the rules for changing tense, pronouns, time/place expressions when converting direct to indirect speech.
■ Error Correction/Editing: Develop an eye for common errors related to subject-verb agreement, prepositions, articles, tenses, etc.
○ Common Pitfalls: Rote memorization without understanding rules; neglecting regular practice; overlooking contextual usage.

● Literature (Hornbill & Snapshots):
○ Core Skill: Analyzing texts for plot, character, theme, literary devices, and author's message.
○ Key Strategies:
■ Prose: Understand the narrative, plot development, character traits and motivations, central conflicts, and thematic concerns.
■ Poetry: Pay attention to poetic devices (simile, metaphor, personification, imagery, symbolism, rhyme scheme, rhythm), the central idea, mood, and tone. Relate the poem's message to human experience.
■ Critical Appreciation: Develop the ability to articulate your understanding and interpretation of the text, supported by textual evidence.
○ Common Pitfalls: Merely summarizing the story/poem without analysis; not providing textual evidence to support interpretations; misinterpreting themes or character motivations; neglecting literary devices.