Are spelling and grammar mistakes heavily penalized?

Minor spelling and grammar mistakes usually won’t tank your score, but consistent errors can make your writing harder to read and hurt clarity. Most evaluators understand that timed writing isn’t about perfection—it’s about demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively under pressure. However, if your mistakes interfere with meaning or make your writing confusing, they could lower your score. The best approach is to aim for accuracy but not obsess over every little mistake. If you have a couple of minutes left at the end, proofread quickly to catch easy-to-fix errors like typos or missing words. Focusing on writing clearly and structuring your response well will matter more than a stray comma or an occasional spelling slip-up.