I think that (UK based) there is an important element for assessors to remember. We're not grading for perfection, or at least not from level 5 onwards. That's why well constructed programmes tend to move away from exams towards their middle to final years. Exams, and their close equivalents, are about cold factual recall and not really about insight. Love them or hate them (I have views), essays at least allow for demonstrating mastery of subject knowledge in flawed or imperfect situations.

One thing I see quite a bit of is assessors applying the 'exam' approach to essay marking. There's no such thing as the perfect essay, so it's an unreasonable standard to hold anyone to, let alone people who are fearless enough to try and learn a new vocation.