Author: Zi Ler
Exams and assessments are things we all have to face each term. They are one of the tools that teachers employ to gauge our progress and identify areas for improvement. Over the course of a few days, I decided that it would be worthwhile to collect different opinions about the importance of exams.
Personally, I think that exams are a simple way to collect and analyze the academic data of a class. Or, if we are talking about international exams like IGCSE, it is a simple way to gauge a student's learning standard, and summarize it with a single grade. From a student’s perspective, I try not to worry too much about them. But, then again, they do play a major role in the lives of all students.
As I have not sat for my mock exams, I turned to my brother for an opinion. When asked whether or not exams are important, he answered with a prompt “no”. He believes that standardized testing gives very little information about the traits or personality of a person. Standardized tests are only able to show how well you can perform in an exam environment and how well you are able to absorb knowledge from the syllabus, which I think is a fair enough point. However, he still believes that mock examinations help students score in the real exam and can provide information about a student’s learning gaps.
This is what Ms. Sha of the English department had to say about the matter...
“Exams are important simply because they are a form of summative assessment in tracking progress and understanding. Mock Exams, in particular, are crucial for us to identify gaps in learning. They provide students with a simulation of the "real scenario," letting them have a taste of what the real exam might look and feel like. Students should treat mock exams like a "trial run" to see what works best for them in terms of revision techniques, study schedule, strategies, etc. so that they can better prepare themselves.”
As for my mother, she sees exams as a way for students to track their own progress. She believes that trial exams, such as mocks, are a way to prepare students for the atmosphere of the real exam. She feels that exams are less about testing one’s ability, and more about getting students adjusted and prepared for the real thing.
What are your opinions about examinations? Leave your two cents in the comments below, I look forward to reading them!
Zi Ler 9N, sep.995@student.tenby.edu.my
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