Improving consistency and feedback in essay-type assessments: evaluation of an assessment-cum-feedback checklist

The Assessment-cum-Feedback Checklist was associated with measurable improvements in the reliability and consistency of essay-type assessment. Both faculty and students perceived the checklist-based approach to enhance clarity, transparency, and the usefulness of feedback by making assessment criteria explicit. With appropriate faculty orientation and iterative refinement, the checklist represents a promising and potentially adaptable tool for strengthening assessment and feedback practices in constructed-response formats in medical education.