Directive: You have approximately 30 minutes to answer a question and develop it into an essay. Your response will see if you qualify to attend the academic institution of your choice or have the prerequisites for the job you are applying for.
(For the purposes of this editorial, we will only use the introductory sentence for scoring. All content is abbreviated.)
Prompt/ Test Question: Are standardized tests for language fair?
Please use standard American English.
(Essay responses in no particular order, except hierarchical.)
Essay 1:
Tests, fair?!
Score: 0
Rater comments: No attempt to answer the question.
Essay 2:
Tests can be fair or not fair.
Score: 1
Rater comments: Attempted to answer the question, but clearly just reworked the prompt.
Essay 3:
Standardized tests: Are they fair or not fair?
Score: 2
Rater comments: An attempt at development. “Standardized test” is established.
Essay 4:
There is an issue that concerns standardized testing, and whether it is fare. It is not fare.
Rater comments: Focuses on development, spelling inaccuracies confuse meaning. Borderline 3/4.
Essay 5:
Standardized tests may be unfair; however, we need them to gauge whether we can speak, write, and convey our message properly.
Rater comments: 4/5 line.
Editorial comments:
We wish we could congratulate everyone. You got into your school. You got your job.
When it comes to language, we all translate and relate what we are trying to communicate in different ways.
How does one score or judge meaning in the sentences we write? On a scale of one to five, that would probably qualify as a zero, depending on who is rating this. (end)