Exams are not very useful.Discuss?

Answer 1

It really depends on the type of exam.

True/false and multiple choice testing methods are ineffective ways of determining true learning as students can guess and receive credit. However, they are easy to grade in mass quantities which is why they are used most often.

Fill-in-the-blank examps are ineffective because many do not deal with real world issues and again, students can memorize a list the night before, fill it in the next day and forget it all. These take moderate time to grade.

Essay exams are one of the best ways because it forces the student to create an argument for their answer and support an argument. It details the thinking process of the student and will display to the teacher if the student really gets it or not. These take a long time to grade.

The best (but, most nervewracking for the student) is an oral exam. If a person can explain something to someone else, then you know they have learned it. Many people can fudge around on an essay, but it is much harder to do that orally. This takes an extreme amount of time to administer - especially if there are many tests.

So, I believe that essays and oral exams are useful testing methods, but take up a good portion of the teacher's time in grading.

Answer 2

Most exams do not give enough feedback to be useful as a learning tool. You don't really learn anything. Some exams test more how you take a test than what you learned.

Exams are an essential part of the school system, however, as they offer a fairly cut and dry assessment that can be judged on a scale. Especially in a mass production school environment, exams can be used as a standard for all learning, rather than a more touchy feely grade based on effort or professor opinion.

Answer 3

Exams are very useful when presented in the appropriate format. Exams used as a reiteration of required information gives the professor a fairly accurate assessment of what each particular student retained.

Exams using application, synthesis, and evaluatory questions further learning and give an accurate assessment as as to the students' mastery of a given subject.

Though an argument can be made that exams do not really assess what they claim to be; this, is not usually the case in institutions of higher learning. It is a tool used to maintain high educational standards, keep all players on a level field, make accurate judgments regarding student proficiency

Answer 4

I used to think that--but I've come to realize that exams--used properly--are invaluable.

The biggest reason is that they get students to study. It sounds nice to say students should "be encouraged to engage the learning process and that the real challenge is to get them involved enough to learn without the need for arbitrary measures (exams)." Or whatever.

The reality: that ain't human nature. You are not going to get a student to forego the many alternative activities from wathching TV to going to a party in college--unless there are negative consequences to doing so. Some will--most willnot. And its a cop-out to say "well, they OUGHT to" Sounds nice. Does not work.

BUT--just passing out and grading exams can be counterproductive--if all you do is have students doing nothing but memorizing factoids for a test. The test should be designed to be an integral part of the learning process--as a focus and framework for thelearning process. There's different strategies for doing this--and it depends partly on the subject. But here's an example of what I mean:

In istory, you can give the standard "multiple-choice" exam (which can be good--but has obvious drawbacks; its hard to avoid an emphasis on memorization over analysis). But a much better approach is to build exams around a set of essay questions. These require not so much memorization or othr rote learning, but interpretation, analysis--in a word, THINKING. As wellas invaluable practice in writing. That kind of test results in a studnent who may or may not remember that the Battle of Lexington and Concord took place on April 19, 1774. But it will produce a student who understands the causes of the American War of Independance--and that'swhat its really about.

Answer 5

Depends on the exam. However, I abide by this rule of thumb: If I studied well and made a good grade, then the exam was a great measurement of my ability and it was flawless. However, if I did terrible, then it was useless and should be throw out.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

To use the exam as the only way to assess retention and usage of knowledge would be futile. I test well and can usually score better than most for that fact alone. I am not as smart as some that I test higher than. They are only one way to test. Projects, discussions, and papers should round it out nicely.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

It looks like you have done so many of them that you have already acquired their literary style (...Discuss) lol
I have always thought that making essays is more useful and you learn more, but you must have a general knowledge before, and this has to be tested some way. Also, it is a way of putting pressure on you to learn things that otherwise you would refuse to.

Answer 10

Well, they certainly provide you and the instructor with a gauge of your mastery of the concepts of the class!

I've always thought that was VERY useful.