The essay checklist will help you remember the key requirements of a CAEL essay. You can access a fillable version of the checklist in the Student Resource section. The checklist can be used in a variety of ways. You can review the checklist before you start writing a practice essay and then consult it again after you have finished. It can be used to provide feedback to other students' work. It can also be used as a way to analyze the sample essays from real test takers that are included in this course.

Pair or Group Work

Read over the checklist and discuss the questions with your partner or group. Do you understand all the questions? Are some of these essay requirements new to you? Which areas do you find most challenging?

CAEL Essay Checklist

Content  
Does the writer remain on topic? Yes / Sometimes / No
Does the writer use specific details and examples to support ideas? Yes / Sometimes / No
Is the writer’s viewpoint clearly expressed? Yes / Sometimes / No
Does the writer fully answer the question(s)? Yes / No
Is the length sufficient to provide a fully developed response? Yes / No
Does the writer avoid repeating ideas? Yes / Sometimes / No
Does the writer use information from the Reading section to support and develop ideas? Yes / Sometimes / No
Does the writer use information from the Listening section to support and develop ideas? Yes / Sometimes / No
Does the writer use information from the Reading and Listening sections in a balanced way? Yes / Sometimes / No
Is the writer able to restate ideas in his or her own words? Yes / Sometimes / No
Organization  
Does the essay have an introduction and conclusion? Yes / No
Are logical transitions (furthermore, in addition, etc.) used to link ideas? Yes / Sometimes / No
Is the response well organized and easy to follow? Yes / Sometimes / No
Does the essay have appropriate paragraphing? Yes / No
Language Use  
Do errors in spelling and usage impede comprehension? Yes / Sometimes / No
Do grammatical structures (verb tense, subject-verb agreement, articles, etc.) support meaning? Yes / Sometimes / No
Is a variety of sentence types used? Yes / Sometimes / No
Does the writer avoid repetition by using a range of vocabulary? Yes / Sometimes / No
Is the vocabulary and tone suitable for an academic context? Yes / Sometimes / No
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