Exams have always been used as a way to measure students’ ability and level of learning. However, I contend that it is not an appropriate way to determine one’s performance and it should be substituted by a continuous assessment approach. The reasons for my contention are as follows.
Nowadays, cheating on exams is a commonplace. Therefore, it is not uncommon for students who do not do well in the class to score high on the exams. Thus, when something like this occurs, there is no way for authorities to confirm whether or not the answers on the exams are really from the student and not the results of an unfair play. Teachers might forestall cheating from taking place, be it by strict invigilating or by the threat to fail the students who do not abide by the rules, there’s still no way to ascertain that every student will comply with the rules. Hence the ineffectiveness of utilising exams as a way of measuring the ability of each student is quite clean.
Furthermore, students have the tendency to memorise for exams without putting any effort in trying to thoroughly understand the materials taught. They will strive to obtain the highest score possible by this means. Memorising is surely a quick way to obtain a good score in a short time, however, it is not an effective way to study if one wants to deeply understand the materials. Consequently, exams are not appropriate when used to measure the ability of the students who memorise.
In conclusion, I believe that the best way to determine a student’s ability is to continuously assess their performance in the classroom. By doing that, fair judgment of each student’s ability will be ensured and students will also be fairly scored based on how well they do in the class
Exams have always been  
used
 as a way to measure  
students’
  ability
 and level of learning.  
However
, I contend that it is not an appropriate way to determine one’s performance and it should  
be substituted
 by a continuous assessment approach. The reasons for my contention are as follows.
Nowadays, cheating on exams is a commonplace.  
Therefore
, it is not uncommon for  
students
 who do not do well in the  
class
 to score high on the exams.  
Thus
, when something like this occurs, there is no way for authorities to confirm  
whether or not
 the answers on the exams are  
really
 from the  
student
 and not the results of an unfair play. Teachers might forestall cheating from taking place, be it by strict invigilating or by the threat to fail the  
students
 who do not abide by the  
rules
, there’s  
still
 no way to ascertain that every  
student
 will comply with the  
rules
.  
Hence
 the ineffectiveness of  
utilising
 exams as a way of measuring the  
ability
 of each  
student
 is quite clean. 
Furthermore
,  
students
 have the tendency to  
memorise
 for exams without putting any effort in trying to  
thoroughly
 understand the materials taught. They will strive to obtain the highest score possible by this means.  
Memorising
 is  
surely
 a quick way to obtain a  
good
 score in a short time,  
however
, it is not an effective way to study if one wants to  
deeply
 understand the materials.  
Consequently
, exams are not appropriate when  
used
 to measure the  
ability
 of the  
students
 who  
memorise
. 
In conclusion
, I believe that the best way to determine a  
student’s
  ability
 is to  
continuously
 assess their performance in the classroom. By doing that,  
fair
 judgment of each  
student’s
  ability
 will  
be ensured
 and  
students
 will  
also
 be  
fairly
 scored based on how well they do in the  
class