What Do Exams Really Test? The Problems With Our Testing System.

Yesterday, finally my engineering first semester exams got over and I took off some time to sit down and analyze the list of valuable things I learned, the skills I developed and the practical knowledge I gained during the semester. Frankly, I was not surprised at all to find the list empty after the analysis. In the span of 145 days of my journey as an engineer, I appeared for around 26 tests(including 8 class tests, 12 sessional tests, and 6 university exams), 10 practical exams(including 5 internal practical exams and 5 external practical exams), and completed around 10 assignments.

I hope you get the point. After appearing for so many tests, practical exams and completing so many assignments I literally gained nothing. I did not learn anything new nor developed any real-life skills. So the question that arises here is, "What do these tests and exams really test?" Though I'm not completely sure about the answer I can firmly say that skills and knowledge are not among them.

The Problems With Our Testing System

1. Judging each student by the same parameter:

• Each and every student is unique. Their brains function differently. Their abilities and capabilities are different and so are their interests. But, our testing system tries to put each and every student in the same bracket.
• Each and every student studying in the same grade is asked to appear for the same subject tests and answer the same test questions in the same manner.
• This system not only robs kids of their creativity and individuality but also of their passions and interests. 

Each and every kid is unique

2. The grading system:

• Each student is divided into a category according to his/her grades. The 90% and above graders are considered as the cream on the top with a bright future while those below 60% grades are assumed as failures by our education system headed for a dull and not so successful life.
• In many schools, the students are divided according to their grades which creates a greater divide between the academically good and poor students.
• The grading system makes the students with poor grades feel worthless and inferior to the good graders.
• The grading system encourages comparison and competition among the students which often adds a lot of pressure on their shoulders. 

3. The method used for learning:

• Mug up the textbook, write the test and forget everything the next day. This is probably something you are familiar with. The same formula has been repeated by the students for years and probably will be repeated in the future too. But the problem arises when these things need to be applied in real life which most students are incapable of doing.
• This rote method of learning can only raise robot humans capable of doing what they are told without ever questioning anything. But the future needs smart and creative individuals capable of finding solutions to our current problems. 
• Scoring good grades by mugging up without understanding the text does not serve any purpose. It is completely useless.  

Though shall memorize textbooks without questioning their relevance in real life

4, The way of assessment:

• Students are expected to write answers as per the described pattern or exactly how things are mentioned in the textbook. If you write something in your own words, you tend to lose grades.
• This method of assessment discourages kids from being creative independent problem solvers.   

Solutions

1. Each student should be allowed to appear in exams of subjects in which they hold an interest in and only a minimum amount of subjects should be compulsory. There should be special exams and scholarships awarded to students as per their different talents and skills. The uniqueness of each kid should be discovered, nurtured and appreciated rather than asking kids to be like each other.

2. The grading system needs to change. Students should be graded as per their skills and practical knowledge rather than their ability to remember a piece of text and write it down on the question paper. Rather than making the poor graders feel worthless, more focus should be given on them to bring them on par with the rest of the kids and study to the best of their abilities. Rather than competition, kids should learn through cooperation.

3. The rote method of learning should be replaced by encouraging the students to explain concepts in their own words as per their own understanding. This can not only help raise independent thinkers with problem-solving capabilities but also boost their confidence in themselves.

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