MJ:
Constant aspect works well in every type I've tried it in, high or low wing.
GusHB: turning downwind is OK if you're fairly high and have the time to be picky but if you do it at normal cruise heights you don't get to assess the field from a couple of directions before committing. I'd prefer a controlled arrival in the best patch available rather than turning downwind in the hope of finding something and running out of ideas while looking for something good.
On a test or checkout the thing that matters is that the person makes the best of the situation, has a plan and flies safely to a controlled arrival; the technique doesn't matter.
HFD