Are exams actually necessary?

jfm98

I believe this is somewhat true. I believe that exams are harder than they were when my parents and especially my grandparents were in school! Some of these exams are pointless. I see ya point, but I truly don't believe that ALL exams are necessary. Very good point, though! I enjoyed how u stood against ya topic! Great Job!

sonia

hmm, i prefer exams over assignments,but it is true that they are harder now than they used to be, and thats not becuase you give the wrong answer, its because its not in the wording that they prefer. well i speak for A level exams in the UK. whcih, is so rude! lol. andyway good essay

ReganFinch

Hey Gabriel :) I have read a lot of theoretical essays and papers over the years, so I would think that I know my stuff. You put up a great argument here and brought the pros and cons very well. The most appealing thing to me, is the flow of this work. It is very fluid. You have a talent, in writing and in debating. Great work. Take care, Regan

Anakura

That's great!!! I love how you've looked at both sides of the argument, and it's true what you have said, However i would choose assignments over exams any day :) Keep writing xxx

Pratibha

Yes I agree with the concept...and the suggestion is really great. In India, Medical colleges have started the exams just the way u have written...i know that is tough for students but then in the long run, it is beneficial...

I know how difficult it was to appear for our final exams in Medical schools...which one question would determine my fate in such a vast course?? Gosh what a tension...

Catherine

haha. cool. i think i agree with this... :D

LeAnne

It is said, that we are the most tested generation since school started a long long time ago.
and now, they are pretty much a big pain and sore in the mind.
But like the teachers always say, 'It's important for your education.'
A wonderful essay by the way!

Goldenglow

I really do hate exams when they come. all the work and studying and the bubbles to fill in, urgh!!
But it's supposed to be important right??
Heck yeah!
By the way, a wonderful idea!!

Dirk van Rooyen

I'm a student myself and agree that there should be a balance between writing exams and not. In certain subjects like Mathematics I think there is no need for writing an exam because you are tested on you mathematical skills during the semester. However in subjects like Anatomy a high level of theoretical knowledge is required which suggests that an exam is needed to test all your acquired knowledge as a whole and how to apply it. I also think that exams these days are not useless in the sense that they only ask you to write down what you know. It tests your knowledge and how you apply it. A good idea could be to have oral exams where your knowledge and how you apply and understand it is tested via a two-way conversation.

IcyDibs402

WOW. What you wrote is so truthful. I hate having to stress over exams. Good work! Keep writing and keep me updated please! =)

Zia Jaycee

i loved what you wrote...thanks for putting both sides of opinion. I believe exams are very hard and very stressful but as a student you have to learn to prepare yourself and I think they are an important part of school...thanks so much and keep writing :) -zia

Carnation

Balanced and very well written essay. I love exams personally, i even wait for them but other methods of evaluation can do more justice to students overall.

All students are not alike, they can't be classified as merely intelligent or dull, each learner has a different talent compared to others and exam system doesn't suit all.

You have raised an important issue... Keep going

Nova chan

Perhaps we feel that exams are pointless because of the questions asked (duh).
The question should be testing the understanding behind the knowledge. Anybody can parrot of an entire page, ask them to explain and perhaps we get into the deep end. Exams arent entirely useless, perhaps if they were id b skippin them, but it does make one remeber things you would rather forget ie log.
Kudos on the essay
Nova

Penelope Garenther

I dont really like exams all too much. I get so stressed over them and go with out sleeping and eating for days before the exam just cause I'm nervous that I'll fail. I agree that there should be certain times to take exams and not just throw them at students whenever they feel like it.
Certain tests that I've taken in the past are theoritical questions or questions that are asking for an oppinion and if you dont check the write answer for the question you miss the question. .... Alot of tests are just retarded, but alot of them are also essencial.

I seriously hate exams and finals

Nomurcee187

Hi!

I can definitely relate to stressing out on an exam. Although there are several ideas people have used to lessen the anxiety such as, squeezing the daylights out of a rubber ball, taking deep breaths, walk a mile before the test--none have helped me!! Nonetheless, it is important to determine if students are grasping the concept of the lecture material so, I think the best type of exam is an essay. This is more than likely because I am a writer and essays are easy for me. Still yet, I think students will be able to convey to professors and teachers what they have learned in an essay. I have always thought of Multiple Choice as Multiple Guess--if 2 of the answers are right then the option to choose would be all of the above; True False has always baffled me and I think it is because I read things backward--so, true/false is a negative; Fill in the blank...hmmm not so bad, matching???---a student's worse nightmare! Those are my thoughts--your writing is fulfilling, keep up the good work.

Nomurcee187

Hey Gabriel:

Since you are an English professor, would you read my Literary Analysis on "MacBeth"?

gacademy

Interesting take on exams. As a student, I had always seen the plain and obvious downside to exams -- they were frustrating!!! However, seeing the negative side of it from a teacher's perspective was certainly enlightening. This article particularly caught my interest because as the Jr. Editor of my high school's newspaper, these are the kind of ideas that I look for. Very interesting; keep on writing!!!

SmilezSweetheart

I REALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS TOPIC. WELL SAID.

Behemoth

I've just gone through my AS exams and did not get the results I was hoping for. I entirely agree that exams put a lot of unnecessary pressure on students in what should be the most carefree years of their lives. The stupidest thing is that when we've done our full A levels, the AS ones won't even matter. When I got my results, I actually cried, but I'm hoping that I can retake and salvage the wreckage.
Another thing I believe is that the format of the exams is sometimes innapropriate (and this is just personal). I know that for spelling and things like that, a written exam is necessary, but in philosophy and ethics (my disappointing grade) I am certain I would have fared better had it been an oral exam.

Anyway, that's my little rant out of the way. I like the article, and hope you could do me the service of reading some of my work when you have the time. :)

Nancy Drew

Finding a balance would be awesome, but as so much of our academic system is tied to/dependent on not only examination, but standardized testing, I don't think a balance is on the horizon.

As someone who just graduated from college I will say that I always felt that exams weren't so much a measurement of my knowledge over the material as they were a test of my ability to take the exam itself. Each professor had such a distinct style of testing, you had to learn that style almost more than the material - which in my opinion is counter productive.