Why do you need to know the Scoring Pattern?

We told you that an eminent panel drawn from high school and college will check your essay, and you ought to know the parameters they will have in mind while doing so. In order to ensure fair play, two panelists who won't know each other's score will mark each essay. They won't even know the student's identity or school. Each examiner will give the essay a score ranging from 1 to 6 (6 being the highest) based on the following parameters.



Perfect 6

An essay in this category demonstrates conceptual clarity and mastery, albeit with few minor errors. A typical essay with this grade will effectively develop a point of view on the issue and demonstrate outstanding critical thinking, using appropriate and pertinent examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its argument. The essay will be well-organised and focused, demonstrating coherence and smooth progression of ideas. It will skillfully show use of language and use apt vocabulary. It will also shows meaningful variety in sentence structure and is free from grammatical errors and usage.



Score of 5

An essay graded in this category demonstrates consistent mastery , although it will have occasional errors or gaps in continuity and quality. The essay will effectively develop a point of view on the issue and demonstrate sound critical thinking, and will cite appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position. It will be organised and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas. It will exhibit facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary and demonstrates variety in sentence structure. It will be free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.



Score of 4

The essay will show enough mastery though it will contain qualitative flaws. A typical essay in this category will develop a point of view on the issue and demonstrate competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position. As a rule, it will be generally organised and focused. It will also demonstrate some coherence and progression of ideas. The essay will show adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary. It will showcase some variety in sentence structure and would have some grammatical errors, errors in usage, and mechanics



Score of 3

An essay in this category will display developing mastery, and will have many weaknesses. It will be able to develop a point of view on the issue, demonstrate some critical thinking, but may do it inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position. Its organisation or focus will be limited, and is likely to demonstrate some lapses in progression of ideas. It will display developing facility in the use of language, but sometime use weak vocabulary or show inappropriate word choice. It will be found wanting in variety or will show weakness in sentence structure. It will contain lot of grammatical errors, usage, and mechanics



Score of 2

An essay in this category will demonstrate little mastery , and will be flawed in key areas. It will not be able to develop a point of view on the issue and will be vague or seriously limited; it will demonstrate weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position. It will show poor organisational skills, and will contain serious problems with regard to coherence or progression of ideas. It will also display very little facility in the use of language, and vocabulary. It will contain grammatical errors, usage, and mechanics so serious that the meaning is somewhat obscured.



Score of 1

An essay in this category will demonstrate very little or no mastery , and is severely flawed in one or more areas. It will fall far short of developing a viable viewpoint on the issue, and will provide little or no evidence to support its position. It will be largely unfocused which results in a disjointed and incoherent essay. It will show fundamental errors in vocabulary and will demonstrate severe flaws in sentence structure. It will also contain persistent errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that will interfere with the overall meaning of the essay.

(Please note that Essays not based on the assignment will get a score of zero.)