‘Examinations are an unfair form of assessment and should not be used at ADMC’. Say whether you agree or disagree with this statement.
Exams are the traditional form of assessment in academic institutions but in recent years there has been a move, in many colleges, including ADMC, towards forms of continuous assessment, involving no formal exam.
There are several points which support the above statement. Firstly, an exam is a one-off pressure situation and some students might not do themselves justice due to exam nerves. Furthermore, an exam result may not accurately reflect the amount or quality of work a student has produced during the course. In addition, some people argue that exams test memory more than ability or knowledge. A final argument is that continuous assessment from start to finish of a course is a more valid method of overall assessment than an exam.
There are, however, several strong arguments against the statement. Firstly, exams are an effective and objective method of assessment. A student’s personality or relationship with his teacher might colour continuous assessment but an exam is an impartial measurement of ability. Secondly, exams are fair because everyone takes them under the same conditions. There are, in real life, pressure situations, so exams are good preparation for life in the work place. Finally, exams can provide nationwide, indeed worldwide, benchmarks to assess students’ capabilities.
There are certain points to be made against exams but, nevertheless, they are used worldwide and ADMC needs to assess its students according to international standards. Abandoning exams would therefore be a retrograde step. We need not only to keep them but make sure they comply with international norms.
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