Exams…

Never really liked exams much. This morning I supervised two exams for
my final year group (IS422) and I can't help but remember what exams are
like for me. The fact is that I am terrified of exams – the make or
break moment – the moment of truth – that point in time when one finds
out if one is good enough to “proceed” to the next level.
What do exams measure anyway? Intelligence, comprehension of the subject
matter or the ability to memorise? Is it an equitable means of judging
one's knowledge on a topic? Exams suck if you ask me.
A medical doctor friend of mine once said that when he graduated from
medical school and collected his piece of paper allowing him to go out
and practice medicine that his degree was not proof that he knew
anything about medicine rather it gave him a license to learn about
medicine.
In my view exams measure just one thing and that is one's ability to sit
exams. A High Distinction tells us that this student is very good at
sitting exams and thats all.
Some of the smartest students that I teach – the ones I believe will go
on and perform well in their respective industries and become successful
- are not necessarily the ones that score high marks in a test.
Perhaps the really smart people just get plain bored with our education
system, exams, classrooms and eccentric academics.
But – What alternatives are there?