Do you think written exams are a fair way to test a person's ability?

Answer 1

Mostly, yes. But it really does depend on which abilities you are looking for. If it is for retention of facts then I cannot see that there can be a better way. It also shows an aptitude for communicating in a specific way.

Exams are getting far too easy now. They more or less give away the answers with the 'multiple choice' type tests.

Having said that, how many of us would be parents if we had to sit a written exam first?

So, back to - depends on which ability you are testing.

Answer 2

Yes I think so because a written exam not only tests your knowledge of the particular subject but your general education, grammar, spelling and literacy. It gives the examiner a good overview of your understanding of the subject if you can write about it as you have to be able to form coherent sentences. It is no good knowing everything there is to know about something if you cannot translate this knowledge into the written word If you have a particular disability, such as dyslexia, then there are other ways to take an examination, but generally I think that the written exam is the most accurate test.

Answer 3

For the entire person's ability, No. But for some part, yes. Written exams are lean more to the theories. To really test a person entire abilities, I think it must be combine with theories(knowledge) and skills(actions) assesments.

Answer 4

The total ability can be assessed only through a series of assessment routines, written exam, to begin with, followed by interview, face-to-face, and in appropriate cases, test of skill (lab work, for example), and, in some cases, physical efficiency tests, group discussions, debates etc., and also psychology tests, as in the case of military recruitment tests. Written exams, alone, not always fair!

Answer 5

It all depends on the subject. For example, a written exam can effectively test how well someone knows their grammar, spelling, and proofreading, or math.

But to me, the best judge of one's abilility is their day to day performance in the classroom. That's where I really see if my students know their stuff and can apply it. Besides, there are those who just aren't good test-takers.

And it depends on the quality of the written test. For example, I don't use all multiple choice because they can always "guess right." But using a combination of true/false, essay, short answer, fill-in, matching, and multiple choice are a better way to measure a student's mastery and ability.

Answer 6

Not always. I panic in written exams for chemistry but i'm good at the practical lab work which is only worth about 25% of my mark. I didnt pass my chemstry a-level because i found it difficult to answer the written essay questions (i knew the answer i just couldnt get it to sound right on paper if that makes sense). Luckily my university let me in despite this.

Answer 7

I think the English exam is fair enough as it will show what ability and intelligebce you have. But the maths exam is really unfair. Most of the equations and questions asked will never ever be used in real life and for it to form part of your result is unfair.

Answer 8

It really depends on the individual, some prefer the more academic approach i.e. exams to test their ability and then there are those who prefer the hands on approach i.e NVQ's and SQV's to recognise their capabilites.

Either approach is fine and it is really courses for horses, in other words what suits one person does not always suit another. That is why moduler way of learning was introduced, so you can be assessed on your performance over the year and not by the results of an exam.

I hope this helps?.

Answer 9

Not really, it builds everything into a high pressure need-to-perform situation, which often scuppers people unneccesarily.

Especially skills abilities, written exams are not really going to demonstrate how well people can actually complete physical tasks.

For some fields, it is the easiest way to judge knowledge, but for others it is not.

Answer 10

Depends on what ability your testing for. If your testing their ability to write answers to questions it seems pretty fair