Formal Examinations Are The Only Effective Way To Assess A Student’s Performance | Band 6.5 IELTS Essay Sample

Formal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student’s performance. Continual assessment such as course work and projects are not a satisfactory way to do this. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this statement.

Here is a band 6.5 IELTS essay on this topic written by one of our students. Need help with IELTS writing? Get your IELTS essays, letters and reports corrected by me.

Band 6.5 IELTS essay sample

It is often seen that many educational institutions such as schools and universities emphasize on traditional examinations to assess their student’s performance. However, there are few institutions that are choosing continual assessment such as course work and projects to evaluate the grades of their students. I, personally believe that both the ways have equal benefits, which I shall highlight in this essay.

There are many reasons that why formal examinations are important in educational institutions. Firstly, such examinations have a pre-defined pattern of conducting exams that have been followed from past so many years. These exams are held in a proper exam room and these are invigilated by professors or teachers. Secondly, students are more focused and disciplined while giving exams in such a pattern as there are less chances of cheating. Moreover, traditional examinations improve memory of the students. However, there are few students who find the final examinations tough as they have to memorize one subject at a single time.

On the other hand, there are a few advantages of choosing continual assessment by schools or universities for their marking system. To begin with, nowadays, the education system relies on rote learning in which too much emphasis is given on theory and very little on practical. There are students who are not good at it and then they fail in the exams. Through projects or course work, it would be easy for those students who are good in practical skills and, with the help of their practical skills, they can score good marks.

To add to it, if there will be monthly assessments then there would be less burden on the students at the time of final examinations at the year-end. Teachers or professors could give grades as per their monthly performance rather than grading them on the basis of one final exam. However, the only drawback is that because of regular coursework and projects, students would not be able to give time to extracurricular activities as they will be indulged in monthly assessments or projects.

To sum up, I reiterate that both traditional examinations and continual assessment are effective in their own ways. It is very difficult to outline which pattern of examination is more efficient.

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Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I'm Manjusha. This is my blog where I give IELTS preparation tips.