English 1 in the IITM BS Qualifier: How Not to Lose Easy Marks

English 1 is one of the four qualifier courses, and it has its own minimum, just like Maths. A General candidate needs a 40% assignment average in English to get a hall ticket, and at least 40% in the English part of the exam to pass. It is easy to lose marks here if you assume English will be easy and give it the least time. Give it a short, fixed slot every day and treat the week 1 sound topics seriously.

What English 1 covers in weeks 1 to 4

From the official course page for English I (BSHS1001):

The course page says the aim is fluency and confidence in spoken and written English, with a wide vocabulary and accurate sentence patterns. Tenses, reading, listening and writing come after the qualifier.

Week 1: sounds are not spellings

This week can surprise people who are good at English, because the topic is about sounds, not letters.

• The letter "a" sounds different in "cat", "car" and "cake".
• "Knife" and "write" have silent letters. The "ph" in "phone" sounds like "f".
• "Rhythm" has no a, e, i, o or u, but you still hear a vowel sound in it.

What to do:

• If the lectures use phonetic symbols, make a one-page chart: each symbol with two example words you know well.
• Say each example word aloud. Your ear is a better check than your eyes here.
• Count sounds, not letters. "Ship" has four letters but three sounds: sh, i, p.

Week 2: judge a word by its job

The same word can be a different part of speech in different sentences.

• "I read a book." Here "book" is a noun.
• "Please book a ticket." Here "book" is a verb.
• "She runs fast." Here "fast" describes how she runs, so it is an adverb.
• "It is a fast train." Here "fast" describes the train, so it is an adjective.

The common mistake is to answer from memory ("book is a noun") instead of looking at the sentence. Before answering, ask what the word is doing in that sentence.

Week 3: phrases and idioms

A phrase is a group of words without its own subject and verb, like "in the morning". A clause has both, like "when she arrived".

An idiom means something different from its words:

• "Break the ice" means start a conversation in an awkward situation.
• "Once in a blue moon" means very rarely.
• "Hit the books" means study hard.

Guessing an idiom from its words usually gives a wrong answer. Learn five a day, and write one sentence of your own for each. Your own sentence usually sticks better than a list.

Week 4: spoken English basics

The handbook says the qualifier exam is based on the content of the 4 weeks, so week 4 counts like any other week. Read the lecture notes carefully, not just the videos.

A simple daily habit: read one short paragraph aloud and record it on your phone. Listen once. Note one word you said unclearly and practise it.

A 25 minute daily routine

• 10 minutes: the new lecture content, with notes in your own words.
• 10 minutes: five idioms, word examples or sound examples, each in a sentence.
• 5 minutes: read aloud and listen back.

It is a small daily cost for a course that has its own minimum, just like the other three.

How English marks slip in the exam

• Leaving English to the end of the 4-hour paper, when you are tired. If you can choose the order, do not always put English last.
• Missing "not" or "except" in a question. Underline such words in your mind before you pick an answer.
• Going with the first answer that looks right. Read every option. Two options can look close, with the difference in one word.

For more, see our English 1 course page, English 1 and English 2: easy marks or a trap?, the 4-week qualifier study plan and how to become eligible for the qualifier exam.

Common questions

My English is good. Do I still need to study English 1?

Yes. Weeks 1 and 4 focus on sounds and speaking, not only on reading and grammar. Being fluent does not mean you know the terms used for vowel and consonant sounds.

Is English 1 in the qualifier based on grammar rules?

Partly. Week 2 covers parts of speech and week 3 covers phrases and idioms. Tenses and common errors come later in the course, after the qualifier weeks.

Can a high score in the other courses cover a low English score?

No. English 1 has its own minimum in both the hall ticket check and the exam. The average across all four courses must also reach your category cutoff.

Do I need to buy the English 1 textbooks?

The course page lists prescribed books, including "English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy and "Oxford Modern English Grammar" by Bas Aarts. For the qualifier, the exam is based on the 4 weeks of content, so start with the lectures. Use a grammar book only for extra practice on your weak spots.