should examinations..........?

Question

should examinations be abolished?

Please want to see your opinion!

Answer 1

The present system/method of examinations should be abolished, but not the examinations. Performance appraisal of a student is possible only through some sort of evaluation and you may call it an examination or by any other name. Particular professions like that of a physician, engineer, architect, scientist etc. require talents like quick assessment, logic, memory, etc. which are very essential for timely decisions as well as quick judgment. Not all the people in the world are born with such abilities. So, this necessitates the requirement of segregating people with such skills, so that they can be useful to society at a higher level or higher service. For this, some sort of examination or evaluation is a must. But this examination or evaluation should be used exclusively for this purpose of sorting rather than letting down people.

No pupil or student should be failed in any examination whatsoever, but be placed in the descending order of performance. Students standing in the top merit list should be apportioned for higher studies as scientists, doctors, engineers etc. whereas as those appearing at the lower levels should be chosen for studies/courses/jobs etc. that can be handled by all and sundry.

Much better than the present system of examination is the system of projects. Projects help the students to familiarize themselves with the real life situations. But in very poor countries and localities and where there is a vast population, even this system is going to be an absolute failure. But where it is feasible, it should be adopted. Examinations have also become a tool for teachers to take revenge on students. Many schools, colleges, Boards, Universities etc. refuse to show the answer papers to the students. This gives rise to lack of accountability. So absolute transparency is required in all examination systems. This transparency tends to reduce mistrust.

Answer 2

See if the examination is abolished means the deciding factor of the best medium or average of a student is not there. So also with out examining the patient a Dr. can not a take a decision how to go about the treatment. So you may feel that this in fact a botheration. it is not so it is required. This system of examination can not be abolished since it is the deciding factor of performance of the candidates.

Answer 3

No, I do not believe examinations should be abolished.

Many subjects require you to prove that you are able to absorb and compute information under pressure and within a set timescale. Also, just as people complain that lots of students prefer coursework and the time and space to think there are equal numbers who perform better in the concentrated effort of an exam (like myself - I hated coursework!).

However, there are courses and qualifications already available to those students who prefer continual assessment and coursework e.g. NVQ's. These prepare you for a particular vocation such as hairdressing or engineering.

Instead of abolishing exams colleges and schools should provide a balance of both academic and vocational course to suit all students.

Answer 4

No, format and method of examination can be changed.