There are somethings I have to accept as normal and something that must done, even if I don’t really agree to its concept. The same thing applies to tests and exams in schools. We see them as an important part of education. Something we can’t do without even if we don’t like it, yeah, I’m sure a lot of people don’t like test and exam, but we have to do it anyways 😁. Starting from my early years in school, we have been made to understand that tests and exams are mandatory before we can move to the next level. Most students who do well are seen as the intelligent ones, while those who don’t do well may have to repeat a class. That’s sad
During my university days, I can remember how some students used to fall sick because of the pressure of exams. Some of them were even admitted to our school health centre before their exams. All of this was due to exam pressure, the pressure to pass and the fear of carrying a course. I would not say they are not intelligent, but maybe they don’t even know what to expect from the exam questions, because some lecturers might not even come to class, but they’ll still set exam questions. So, that alone is enough to make a student feel tense, right?
Another funny thing about tests and exams is how some students read and memorize definitions. Some of them read just to pass and might not even understand the course. Honestly, if you ask some people what they wrote in their exams immediately after they come out of the exam hall, they may not even remember anything, simply because they memorized the course with the aim of getting good grades. This is something I’ve come across from my colleagues then. The popular slang we use to describe that act over here is “la cram la pour,” meaning cramming and pouring it out without actually understanding it. That’s crazy, right?
To me, someone who only reads to get good grades cannot be seen as being intelligent. I would say exams and tests seem like a situation where a student is able to remember the right information at the right time. However, I’m not saying tests and exams are useless. At least, they serve their purpose of assessing students and determining their promotion to the next level. Yet, it can’t be compared to real life experiences. It’s always important to have a better understanding of what we know and what we can actually do with what we know.
The fact remains that real life is more than exams and tests. I believe if exams and tests were replaced with more practical assessments, most students would be happier. There might be less exam pressure because some students don’t perform well because of examination pressure, but they may have a better understanding of how to apply their knowledge practically. In my department in school, we have both theory and practical courses. Interestingly, no student fails practical courses the way they do in theory courses. That’s enough reason to show that tests and exams don’t really show how intelligent someone is.
For me, tests and exams will always be part of education, but they shouldn’t be used as a measure of intelligence. I see it as a test of memory. Some students who don’t perform well in tests and exams can do better when they are given the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in real-life situations. Personally, I would love to see an education system where students are assessed not only by what they can remember during tests and exams, but also by what they understand and how they can apply that knowledge in real life.
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