In the modern world, there is a movement away from written exams to more practical assessment. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.
Sample Response
The written exam was the only possible evaluation method in the past and thanks to the technological advancements for numerous other techniques to assess a student's academic performance nowadays. It is quite obvious that schools and other educational and training institutions are opting for a combination of different assessment methods and this shift has both advantages and demerits, which I shall examine in this essay. To start with the advantages, practical approaches to evaluating students not only consider the overall learning and understanding of a student but also the accuracy and depth of their knowledge. For instance, in a paper based exam, a student can easily memorise the answers and perform well in written test; but when he is asked to demonstrate the knowledge his knowledge in a lab, his memorise-and-answer ability would help him a little. In practical exams, students who have really learned the lessons would pass with flying colours. Furthermore, assessment methods like interviews, group assignments, presentations and lab experiments prepare pupil to face the challenges in professional life. Turning to the disadvantages of practical assessment, many students can cheat the evaluation process and pass the exam with a little devotion to study. For instance, a recent survey conducted on students in five different colleges revealed that students prefer group assignments, online presentations and lab experiments than written exam as they need to study more for the later one. On top of that, sometimes, teachers favour particular students and mark some students poorly due to personal reasons and the authority has little to do to reassess this marking scheme at a later date. To conclude, genuine assessment of a student is quite an essential task for the schools and a combination of evaluation process should be implemented. Practical assessment offers many benefits and subsequently prepare students for the future challenges in both academic and professional environment.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise wording Original: quite obvious Suggested revision: clear Why it matters: Clear conveys the same meaning more concisely in formal writing.
- 2. Match task terminology Original: demerits Suggested revision: disadvantages Why it matters: Disadvantages is the more natural counterpart to advantages in this context.
- 3. Add a comma Original: To start with the advantages Suggested revision: To start with the advantages, Why it matters: A comma should separate this introductory phrase from the main clause.
- 4. Add the article Original: in written test Suggested revision: in a written test Why it matters: The singular countable noun test requires an article.
- 5. Correct clause punctuation Original: ; but Suggested revision: , but Why it matters: A coordinating conjunction should follow a comma rather than a semicolon here.
- 6. Remove duplicated wording Original: demonstrate the knowledge his knowledge Suggested revision: demonstrate his knowledge Why it matters: The original phrase repeats knowledge and breaks the sentence structure.
- 7. Use natural phrasing Original: memorise-and-answer ability Suggested revision: ability to memorise answers Why it matters: This infinitive phrase is more natural and precise.
- 8. Clarify the meaning Original: help him a little Suggested revision: be of little help Why it matters: The revision clearly conveys that memorisation would not help much.
- 9. Use academic wording Original: really learned the lessons Suggested revision: genuinely learned the material Why it matters: This phrase is more precise and appropriately formal.
- 10. Use the plural noun Original: prepare pupil Suggested revision: prepare pupils Why it matters: The general statement requires a plural countable noun.
- 11. Correct the collocation Original: cheat the evaluation process Suggested revision: cheat during the evaluation process Why it matters: People cheat during a process rather than cheat the process itself in this meaning.
- 12. Use natural phrasing Original: a little devotion to study Suggested revision: little dedication to studying Why it matters: The revised phrase uses the correct collocation and grammatical form.
Suggested Rewrites
- quite obvious clear
- demerits disadvantages
- To start with the advantages To start with the advantages,
- in written test in a written test
- ; but , but
- demonstrate the knowledge his knowledge demonstrate his knowledge
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response’s strongest feature is its relevant coverage of both the educational and professional benefits of practical assessment as well as possible drawbacks. Its main limitation is uneven control of expression and organisation, with the entire discussion presented as one block and several ideas supported by imprecise reasoning. The highest-priority improvement is to separate the argument into purposeful paragraphs and explain each disadvantage more convincingly.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
The response addresses both advantages and disadvantages with relevant ideas, though some supporting reasoning is not fully convincing.
Develop the cheating and biased-marking disadvantages with clearer mechanisms and more credible supporting examples.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument follows a recognisable sequence and uses clear signposting, but the lack of paragraph breaks weakens organisation.
Divide the essay into an introduction, separate advantages and disadvantages paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Lexical Resource
There is a good range of education-related vocabulary, but inaccurate collocations and word forms recur.
Use more precise combinations such as “written examination,” “students,” and “assessment process,” and check word forms carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied sentence structures, but recurring agreement, article, and construction errors reduce control.
Proofread complex sentences for subject-verb agreement, articles, and complete clause structures before finalising the response.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
In the modern world, there is a movement away from written exams to more practical assessment. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.