Investigating the Quality of Indonesian EFL Essay Writing at the University Level

This study examines common writing errors among EFL students at an Islamic institution in Indonesia, focusing on 11 second-year and 20 third-year English Education students. Using descriptive quantitative analysis, the research identifies patterns in subject-verb agreement, article usage, and misplaced modifiers by analyzing student essays. A total of 31 students were selected to complete an essay task, with errors categorized and analyzed through a predefined checklist. The results reveal that incorrect article usage was the most frequent error (27%), followed by subject-verb agreement and misplaced modifiers. Errors in verb tense and spelling were also noted, though to a lesser extent. These errors negatively impacted writing quality, emphasizing the need for pedagogical strategies that focus on functional grammar in practical writing contexts. The study suggests addressing both grammatical accuracy and psychological factors like writing anxiety to enhance student performance.