This IELTS model essay deals with the issue of whether it is better to have formal examinations to assess student’s performance or continual assessment during term time, such as coursework and projects.
This is an agree/disagree question, meaning that you are given one opinion and asked if you agree with it or not. In response to this question, the writer partially agrees with the opinion.
The writer agrees that formal examinations are effective but does not believe these are the only effective way to assess a student’s abilities.
The writer thinks that there are disadvantages of examinations so continual assessment is a good way to balance this.
IELTS Model Essay
| You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Formal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student’s performance. Continual assessment such as course work and projects is not a satisfactory way to do this. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. Write at least 250 words. |
IELTS Model Essay Answer
Many educational establishments such as schools and universities are choosing to assess their students through course work and projects undertaken during term time rather than the traditional examinations. Continual assessment can be an effective way to evaluate student’s abilities, but formal examinations should also be maintained.
There are two principal benefits of formal examinations. Firstly, they are a fair system as every student has an equal opportunity since they all sit the same exam at the same time, meaning that those students who work hard should be rewarded with a high grade. In addition to this, it is also difficult to cheat if the exam is properly invigilated. However, some students naturally excel in exams, whereas others find it difficult to work under these stressful and time-constrained conditions. Formal exams may not, therefore, always reflect a student’s true ability.
Continual assessment, on the other hand, allows those students who work at a slower pace more time to work on their coursework and projects. The teacher can also observe and assist students who may be weaker, thus providing them with the opportunity to improve during the term. Not only this, projects encourage team work, an important skill that is necessary for future employment. Focusing only on formal exams may mean that this important component of children’s development is not seen as important by teachers or students.
To conclude, it is evident that both continual assessment and formal examinations are effective in different ways, but they also have weaknesses. I would therefore argue that in order to have robust evaluation procedures in the future, both should be used to assess students during their education.
273 words
✳️ Estimated Band Score: 8.0–8.5
✅ 1. Task Response – Band 8.5
What you did well:
- You clearly address all parts of the question.
- A balanced view is presented, which is appropriate for a “To what extent do you agree or disagree?” prompt.
- Each argument is well-developed, supported with logical explanations and examples.
- You conclude effectively, summarizing your stance and presenting a thoughtful final opinion.
Minor area to push toward Band 9:
- A very slight increase in depth or complexity of argumentation, especially around the psychological or pedagogical reasons for why certain students may benefit from continual assessment, could elevate it further.
🔗 2. Coherence and Cohesion – Band 8.5
What you did well:
- Excellent paragraphing. Each paragraph has a clear central idea.
- Use of cohesive devices like “Firstly,” “In addition to this,” “on the other hand,” “thus,” “to conclude” is natural and smooth.
- Logical progression throughout — from introduction to balanced body paragraphs to conclusion.
To push to Band 9:
- Try to vary cohesion devices a bit more and eliminate any slightly mechanical linking, though this is a very minor issue in this essay.
💬 3. Lexical Resource – Band 8.0
What you did well:
- Wide range of vocabulary: “educational establishments,” “invigilated,” “teamwork,” “component of children’s development.”
- Collocations are strong: “continual assessment,” “robust evaluation procedures,” “time-constrained conditions.”
To improve:
- A couple of word choices could be slightly more precise or academic:
- “Not only this” could be improved to “Moreover” or “Furthermore” for smoother flow.
- “are choosing to assess” → perhaps “increasingly prefer assessing” would be more formal.
- Some repetition of “students” or “assessment” can be minimized with synonym variety.
⚙️ 4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy – Band 8.5
What you did well:
- Excellent sentence variety — simple, compound, and complex sentences are all used.
- Structures like “whereas others find it difficult…”, “in order to have robust…”, “Formal exams may not, therefore, always…” show sophisticated control.
Minor issues:
- “student’s abilities” in the introduction should be “students’ abilities” (plural possessive). A small grammatical slip, but noticeable.
📌 Summary Table:
| Band Descriptor | Score |
|---|---|
| Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence & Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range/Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall Band Score | 8.5 ⭐️ |
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