Onterra TutorAre exams the best way to measure what a student has learned?
Duolingo English Test writing question in the official format, with a full model answer and notes on why it scores. Write your own version below it and get an instant rater-style score.
The question
Some people think exams are the best way to measure what a student has learned, while others disagree. What is your opinion? Support it with reasons and examples.
Model answer
I think exams are the best available measure of some learning, and a poor measure of the rest, so my answer is a qualified no. Exams excel at checking whether facts and methods can be recalled under pressure, and their anonymity protects fairness: the marker cannot favour a surname. But much of what education builds, such as persistence, collaboration and the ability to attack an unfamiliar problem over weeks, is invisible in a three-hour sitting. A student who crams brilliantly and forgets everything by June has passed the exam and failed the point. The better system is a mixture: exams for knowledge, projects for application, and portfolios for growth over time. Measuring learning with exams alone is like judging a farm by one harvest day.
Why this answer scores
- A qualified position with clear criteria beats a flat yes or no.
- Recognises the fairness advantage of exams before criticising them, showing balance.
- The farm simile finishes the answer with vivid, natural language.
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