a painstaking student

[mrmvp]

I am writing a reference letter for a student I taught last year. He graduated with merit last term. I am a bit confused about whether to use the present perfect tense or the past passive voice.

1- [Last name] was a painstaking student who did his work to the best of his ability and beyond the call of duty.

2- [Last name] has been a painstaking student who has done his work to the best of his ability and beyond the call of duty.

 

[SoothingDave]

Use version 1.

People aren't "painstaking." People may apply painstaking attention to their studies, but they aren't themselves "painstaking."

It's not a very pretty word, either. Who wants to associate someone you are recommending with pain?

Try "diligent." A diligent student.

 

[mrmvp]

Thank you @SoothingDave . I really appreciate your feedback. I will opt for diligent. Which tense is appropriate to use?

 

[jutfrank]

Since he's no longer your student, use the past simple, as in your first sentence, which is not passive voice, by the way.