Language Choices
Calm, sure words — "strengthen," "benefits" — not shouting.
Exact words to back claims, not vague ones like "reports are bad."
A tone that sounds thoughtful, not pushy.
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Reasoned language: sure words without pushing or staying vague.
The situation is real: your school is genuinely considering this change. Some people think student-led conferences are more meaningful and help students take responsibility for their learning. Others worry that conferences lack the detail of written reports or make some students uncomfortable presenting publicly. Your job is not to please everyone—you take a position and argue for it clearly. Your argument should be built on genuine reasoning, not just emotion. You should acknowledge that the opposing view exists (some people do worry about the format change) and then explain why your position is stronger. You should anticipate what concerns the school board might have and show why your solution addresses them.
Structure & Cohesion
Strong writing this week has a clear order: opening with your view, body paragraphs that build on each other, a fair note on the other side, then an ending that ties it together. Linking phrases like "Another reason" or "However" guide the reader.
What markers scan for
- Open by stating your view clearly.
- Give one main reason per body paragraph.
- Note the other side, then show why your view is stronger.
- Use linking phrases like "Another reason" or "However."
Score Bands
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Basic
Some order shows but ideas feel scattered or weak at the end.
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Strong
Order is clear and ideas build toward a strong ending.
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Excellent
Order is tight and every part adds weight to the view.
Student sample for assessment
Written by a Year 5 student in Concord, NSW, Australia.
Student-led conferences are a good idea and schools should use them instead of written reports. This is because students can explain their learning themselves and parents will understand better what their child is actually doing at school.
Written reports are often confusing because teachers use complicated language that doesn't mean much. My parents asked me what some of the words in my report meant last year and I couldn't explain them properly. A student-led conference would be clearer because I could show my parents my actual work and talk about what I learned.
Student-led conferences help students feel more responsible for their own learning. When you have to present your work to your parents, you have to think carefully about what you have achieved and what you need to work on next. This makes you understand yourself better as a learner. You become more independent and take ownership of your progress.
Student-led conferences also give parents a chance to ask questions and have a real conversation with their child about learning. Traditional reports don't allow for this kind of dialogue.
Reports take teachers a very long time to write and it might be easier for teachers if we had conferences instead. Students know the most about their own learning anyway so it makes sense for them to explain it.
