The Overlong Essay
A B2 writing task asks for a 180–220 word opinion essay on remote work. A candidate submits 410 words. The content is coherent and well organized, with clear paragraphing and appropriate linking, but the essay answers the prompt only in the final third - the first 250 words describe the history of offices. There are 6 grammar errors and 4 lexical errors across the whole text; the last 100 words contain almost none. The marking scheme gives separate bands for task achievement, coherence, range, and accuracy, and instructs markers to consider 'the extent to which the response addresses the task as set.'
1. How should the length and the delayed relevance affect the task-achievement band?
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Task achievement should be marked down significantly, for two independent reasons.
Relevance is delayed. Only the final third engages the prompt. The first 250 words are background that the task did not ask for. Task achievement asks whether the response does what was set - an essay that spends 60% of its length on unrequested history is partially off-task, however well written.
Length is roughly double the limit. The 180–220 range signals the expected scope. At 410 words the candidate has not selected and compressed; the excess is largely the off-task material.
Important nuance: do not double-penalize by also docking coherence for the length. The essay is coherent - the problem is relevance and scope, which belong to task achievement. Keep the bands independent.
Band judgement: task achievement at the lower end of the passing range, not a fail - the prompt is ultimately answered, just late and at excessive length.
2. The accuracy errors cluster in the first 300 words. How should this distribution influence the accuracy band, and what feedback would you give?
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Do not simply count errors over total words. Ten errors in 410 words gives a flattering ratio, but the errors are concentrated where the candidate wrote freely and evaporated where the text became formulaic. The last 100 words are short, simple sentences - low error rate because low ambition, not because of control.
Band judgement: mark accuracy on the range of structures attempted, not the raw ratio. The candidate attempts complex subordination early and errs; that is more informative than a clean but simple ending.
Feedback:
- Praise the coherent structure and the clear final section.
- Point out that the essay answers the question only in the last third - show where the relevant material begins and ask for a rewrite that starts there.
- Note that the error-free ending uses simpler language; encourage carrying the ambitious structures into a tighter, on-task essay.
This gives the candidate an actionable revision target rather than a bare score.