During the last twenty years, the assessment of students has undergone a major transformation. Many educational institutions have shifted their focus from traditional examination towards a variety of innovative assessment techniques, as they believe traditional examination results are not often true to student’s ability. To what extent do you agree with the claim that traditional examination results are not true to the student’s ability?
Sample Response
For more than a century, traditional examination to assess students' abilities is in place, but, a more suitable and modern approach has been adopted by many schools, and this is often regarded as a better technique to evaluate a pupil’s learning ability and knowledge. I personally agree with the claim and believe that the innovative modern assessment technique is more suitable.
To begin with, the conventional exam system has a major flaw which is its inadequacy to evaluate the true knowledge of pupils. For instance, in the conventional paper-based exam system, students can memorise answers to a few questions and pass the exam with a good grade. Someone with little knowledge of a subject can get a higher grade by memorising answers. On the contrary, innovative approaches like group assignments, sudden quizzes, hands-on tests and so on can reflect the actual level of a student’s learning. This is why many educational institutions are shifting towards these assessment techniques from the traditional exam system.
Moreover, the paper-based exam system allows students to cheat on the exam and pass it without even studying hard. On the contrary, a student would not be able to pass a hands-on test or an open-book exam where he or she needs to propose a solution to a problem rather than just write answers from books. From my experience, I can tell that I had to study more to pass the sudden class tests than my term finals as I had no clue what teachers would assess on these sudden tests. Many schools have already introduced a few innovative assessment techniques due to their experience with traditional tests and their limitations. The latest methods are in place because they are more suitable.
To conclude, the proper evaluation method for students is important, and no stone should be unturned to introduce the most effective way of doing it. Something is missing in the conventional exam system, and I believe this is where the modern methods of evaluating fit in.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Avoid redundant modifiers Original: innovative modern assessment technique Suggested revision: modern assessment approach Why it matters: ‘Innovative’ and ‘modern’ duplicate meaning here.
- 2. Clarify flaw description Original: major flaw which is its inadequacy Suggested revision: major flaw: its inability Why it matters: The colon and direct noun phrase state the flaw clearly.
- 3. Use precise knowledge term Original: true knowledge Suggested revision: actual knowledge Why it matters: ‘Actual knowledge’ is the natural contrast with memorised answers.
- 4. Use grade collocation Original: with a good grade Suggested revision: with a high grade Why it matters: Grades are conventionally described as high or low.
- 5. Use comparison connector Original: On the contrary, innovative approaches Suggested revision: By contrast, innovative approaches Why it matters: The sentence contrasts assessment methods rather than contradicting a claim.
- 6. Use assessment term Original: sudden quizzes Suggested revision: unannounced quizzes Why it matters: ‘Unannounced’ precisely describes tests given without warning.
- 7. Improve modifier order Original: actual level of a student’s learning Suggested revision: student’s actual level of learning Why it matters: This word order is more natural and concise.
- 8. Clarify replacement direction Original: shifting towards these assessment techniques from the traditional exam system Suggested revision: replacing the traditional exam system with these assessment techniques Why it matters: The original prepositions obscure what is replacing what.
- 9. Fix exam preposition Original: cheat on the exam Suggested revision: cheat in the exam Why it matters: In this context, the standard preposition is ‘in’.
- 10. Use accurate contrast Original: On the contrary, a student Suggested revision: By contrast, a student Why it matters: This introduces a comparison rather than a direct contradiction.
- 11. Fix relative reference Original: where he or she needs Suggested revision: in which they need Why it matters: An examination is a context ‘in which’ an action occurs.
- 12. Clarify book use Original: write answers from books Suggested revision: copy answers from books Why it matters: ‘Copy’ expresses the intended contrast with proposing a solution.
Suggested Rewrites
- innovative modern assessment technique modern assessment approach
- major flaw which is its inadequacy major flaw: its inability
- true knowledge actual knowledge
- with a good grade with a high grade
- On the contrary, innovative approaches By contrast, innovative approaches
- sudden quizzes unannounced quizzes
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response’s strongest feature is its clear agreement with the claim, supported by focused explanations of memorisation, cheating, and alternative assessments that test applied knowledge. Its main limitation is some repetition and overstatement, particularly the assumption that open-book or practical tests prevent weak preparation or dishonesty. The highest priority is to qualify these comparisons and explain more precisely how varied assessments reveal abilities that traditional examinations may miss.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
A clear position is maintained and developed through two relevant criticisms of traditional exams, supported by comparisons and a personal example.
Acknowledge that no method eliminates all weaknesses and show specifically which abilities practical, group, or open-book assessments measure better.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses logically through focused paragraphs, though repeated contrasts and a somewhat vague conclusion limit cohesion at the highest level.
Give each body paragraph a distinct evaluative focus and make the conclusion synthesise the two reasons rather than referring generally to ‘something’ missing.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally precise for education and assessment, with occasional awkward or repetitive expressions.
Use more natural terms such as ‘unannounced quizzes’, ‘measure students’ knowledge’, and ‘modern assessment methods’ while reducing repeated references to systems and techniques.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex structures is mostly accurate, although the opening sentence and a few punctuation and tense choices contain noticeable lapses.
Simplify the opening sentence, remove the unnecessary comma after ‘but’, and maintain consistent tense when describing long-established practices.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
During the last twenty years, the assessment of students has undergone a major transformation. Many educational institutions have shifted their focus from traditional examination towards a variety of innovative assessment techniques, as they believe traditional examination results are not often true to student’s ability. To what extent do you agree with the claim that traditional examination results are not true to the student’s ability?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.