People have different views about the effectiveness of the traditional written test. While there are several modules that should not be accessed by this formal exam, I still believe that it should not be replaced completely.
The traditional written test is a very common way to access the educational achievements due to its convenience. Firstly, it can be conducted in a short time to examine a large number of students. Secondly, it has many types of questions to test different kinds of knowledge and skills in students, namely multiple choice, short answers, reports, thesis or long essays. That is also a reason why the written test can be used for both theoretical and practical modules. Finally, as long as the written examination still exists, the handwriting, which is the skill that is necessary for all time, will never be lost in the technology world.
On the other hand, the formal “paper and pen” test is not the best way to examine student’s skills in some courses. For example, in language courses, speaking is the skills that need to be accessed orally. A student can write a good essay in new language does not mean that he/she can speak it fluently. Similarly, for some mini-research projects that are related to business, social science and art, beside a written final report, a presentation will be the most suitable test for teachers to check not only their students’ knowledge, but also other soft-skills like public speaking, organizing, presenting and even teamwork. Furthermore, examiners can access the student’s abilities by different tailored practical coursework. This is by far the most suitable method to know whether the students are able to understand and transfer their knowledge to practice.
To conclude, the type of examinations should be depended on the nature of the educational programs’ curriculum. However, I still think that the written test is the most common and effective method for all educational organizations.
People
have
different
views about the effectiveness of the traditional
written
test
. While there are several modules that should not
be accessed
by this formal exam, I
still
believe that it should not
be replaced
completely.
The traditional
written
test
is a
very
common way to access the educational achievements due to its convenience.
Firstly
, it can
be conducted
in a short time to examine
a large number of
students
.
Secondly
, it has
many
types of questions to
test
different
kinds of knowledge and
skills
in
students
,
namely
multiple choice, short answers, reports, thesis or long essays.
That is
also
a reason why the
written
test
can be
used
for both theoretical and practical modules.
Finally
, as long as the
written
examination
still
exists, the handwriting, which is the
skill
that is
necessary for all time, will never
be lost
in the technology world.
On the other hand
, the formal “paper and pen”
test
is not the best way to examine
student’s
skills
in
some
courses.
For example
, in language courses, speaking is the
skills
that need to
be accessed
orally
. A
student
can write a
good
essay in new language does not mean that he/she can speak it
fluently
.
Similarly
, for
some
mini-research projects that
are related
to business, social science and art, beside a
written
final report, a presentation will be the most suitable
test
for teachers to
check
not
only
their
students’
knowledge,
but
also
other soft-
skills
like public speaking, organizing, presenting and even teamwork.
Furthermore
, examiners can access the
student’s
abilities by
different
tailored practical coursework. This is by far the most suitable method to know whether the
students
are able to understand and transfer their knowledge to practice.
To conclude
, the type of examinations should
be depended
on the nature of the educational programs’ curriculum.
However
, I
still
think
that the
written
test
is the most common and effective method for all educational organizations.