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?

Traditionally, the only useful
way
of assessing a student's progress depends upon formal
examinations
whereas
coursework
or
projects
are not considered an effective
way
in
this
regard. I personally disagree with
this
situation because
coursework
and
projects
are better options than formal
examinations
because today's fast world emphasises developing soft
skills
rather than becoming successful in formal exams.
Although
taking formal
examinations
every semester to evaluate student's progress is widely acceptable, at present, it is generally regarded as an outdated
way
. The primary reason for being educated is to prepare for the future professional world which requires soft
skills
instead
of theoretical knowledge. Through formal
examinations
, there are fewer opportunities to examine the soft
skills
of
students
.
Hence
, educational experts are emphasizing banning formal exams in educational institutions and establishing continual assessments. Continual assessment like giving
projects
and
coursework
helps the examiner to evaluate whether the
students
have gained their professional
skills
or not.
According to
the criteria of the
projects
,
students
are required to prove their creativity, problem-solving
skills
, interpersonal communication
skills
and so on which are needed to perform in their future professional fields.
Therefore
, most of the developed countries with advanced educational systems are stressing
coursework
and
projects
instead
of
examinations
for evaluating
students
.
To conclude
, the importance of formal
examinations
is still fresh but continual assessment could be the most effective
way
of assessing a student's ability. It is essential to develop soft
skills
in today's competitive world and only continual assessment can help in
this
regard.
Submitted by rahman_rehana on

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Introduction and Conclusion
Your essay lacks a clear introduction and conclusion, both of which are vital in presenting and reinforcing your argument effectively. You should begin with a clear statement of your position in response to the prompt and end with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and reaffirms your opinion.
Logical Structure
While some of your points are valid, there is a lack of clear progression between them. Paragraphs and ideas need to be structured in a logical fashion, with transitional phrases used to help the reader follow your argument.
Supported Main Points
You have raised some arguments in favor of continual assessment over formal examinations, but these need to be backed up with more detailed examples and evidence for stronger support. The inclusion of specific, relevant examples is essential to demonstrate your understanding and to illustrate your points convincingly.
Complete Response
Your response touches on the key points of the question, but it seems somewhat incomplete. Ensure that you fully explore the statement given and address each part of the prompt to give a more rounded answer to the question. Partial or incomplete responses can limit the mark awarded for task achievement.
Clear and Comprehensive Ideas
Your ideas on the subject are understandable but could be expressed more clearly and comprehensively. Aim to define your ideas succinctly and present them in a way that is easy to follow, connecting them directly back to the question to stay on topic.
Relevant Specific Examples
Examples provided in your essay are too general and lack specificity. Incorporate more precise and relevant instances or case studies to substantiate your argument and show a deeper understanding of the topic.

Fully explain your ideas

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For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

  • Paragraph 1 - Introduction
    • Sentence 1 - Background statement
    • Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
    • Sentence 3 - Thesis
    • Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
  • Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
    • Sentence 1 - Summary
    • Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
    • Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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Essentional vocabulary list for IELTS Writing 7+

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • controlled environment
  • academic ability
  • creativity
  • critical thinking
  • practical skills
  • holistic approach
  • high-stakes exam
  • rote learning
  • deeper understanding
  • plagiarism
  • standardized measure
  • consistency
  • fairness
  • track progress
  • feedback
  • equitable approach
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