Regularly, I am invited to write recommendation for students pursuing postgraduate studies. Students thought it would be easy. No, it is not! Aside from writing a letter, referees are asked to rank the students on various qualities. Here is an example from one of the online recommendation forms.
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Please rank the applicant in the following categories. Note that the scale is nonlinear. Feel free to indicate "Uncertain" if you cannot comment.
>> Overall Intellectual Ability
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Analytical Ability
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Clarity of Goals for Graduate Study
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Overall Potential for Graduate Study
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Oral Expression in English
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Written Expression in English
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Ability to Work Independently
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Ability to Work with Others
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Research Potential
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
>> Motivation
* Uncertain * Below 50% * Top 50% * Top 20% * Top 10% * Top 5% * Top 1%
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If you are planning to ask any teacher to write recommendation for you, please try to do the ranking and tell the teacher the CORRESPONDING EVIDENCE she/had had known about you on such qualities.
As a referee, I have obligation to fill in the form honestly. I often end up choosing "uncertain" a lot of times because I had not the chance to observe and interact well enough with the students to do a fair assessment.
Would "uncertain" help your postgraduate study application? I would say, CERTAINLY NOT!
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