Examinations and tests as means of assessment of students' educational process have been widely used and acknowledged for almost hundred years. Personally, I believe that there are lots of merits to be acquired from testing; however, the drawbacks it may pose should not be overlook either.
To begin with, the most obvious advantage of testing and exams is the fact that it allows teachers to get access to students' educational and understanding process. Marks and points in some exams convey a fairly clear view of each student's level as well as the degree to which students understand the subject matter, teachers can thereby employ corresponding teaching strategies suitable for all students. For instance, for those students who have voracious appetite for facts and knowledge, teachers can add some complex information which is nowhere to be found in common textbooks or syllabus. On the other hand, for needy student who have difficulties in grasping basic ideas and structures, teachers may adjust their teaching pace to help them keep up with the others. What is more, examinations and testing also help parents to get a grasp of their children' educational situations at schools to put them under regular supervision if needed be.
On the other hand, examinations and testing, in some cases, may have some flaws and drawbacks. In particular, some students often suffer from mental trauma during exams. In cases as such, exams are no longer a practical and accurate tools to get access to students' levels. More importantly, current testing systems in some countries fail to cover some skills such as presentation, team-work, group discussion which are essential and strongly needed in the workplace. Last but not least, to cope with tests and exams, some students develop a testing technique called short-term memorizing which can only provide them with temporary memory of the subject matter without further understanding of it.
To put it in the nutshell, the benefits of testing can far outstrip its disadvantage. However, with our current testing system, I am afraid that we may not make the most out of it.
To begin with, the most obvious advantage of testing and exams is the fact that it allows teachers to get access to students' educational and understanding process. Marks and points in some exams convey a fairly clear view of each student's level as well as the degree to which students understand the subject matter, teachers can thereby employ corresponding teaching strategies suitable for all students. For instance, for those students who have voracious appetite for facts and knowledge, teachers can add some complex information which is nowhere to be found in common textbooks or syllabus. On the other hand, for needy student who have difficulties in grasping basic ideas and structures, teachers may adjust their teaching pace to help them keep up with the others. What is more, examinations and testing also help parents to get a grasp of their children' educational situations at schools to put them under regular supervision if needed be.
On the other hand, examinations and testing, in some cases, may have some flaws and drawbacks. In particular, some students often suffer from mental trauma during exams. In cases as such, exams are no longer a practical and accurate tools to get access to students' levels. More importantly, current testing systems in some countries fail to cover some skills such as presentation, team-work, group discussion which are essential and strongly needed in the workplace. Last but not least, to cope with tests and exams, some students develop a testing technique called short-term memorizing which can only provide them with temporary memory of the subject matter without further understanding of it.
To put it in the nutshell, the benefits of testing can far outstrip its disadvantage. However, with our current testing system, I am afraid that we may not make the most out of it.
