Who likes tests? I am sure that the majority of our society
will answer negatively. Unfortunately, tests are generally accepted to be the
one of the most popular learning tool, whether we like it or not. But there
is one question: are tests really efficient?
First of all, there are several points in favour of making
tests. The main one is a fact that being tested is more effective than a
passive repetition. For example, Henry L. Roediger III, a psychologist at
Washington University, made a research about how the brain stores, and later
retrieves, memories. He compared the test results of students who used passive
study methods, like re-reading material, highlighting, writing notes or
revising in small groups, with the results from students who were repeatedly
tested on the same material. He came to the conclusion that taking a test is
much more efficient. Apparently, frequent testing helps people remember
information longer. 
Furthermore, tests are quite convenient method to measure developed
knowledge or abilities. When it comes to standardised tests, like 'matura' or
SATs, it is much easier to compare students skills. The rules are clear – you sit
a test, do your best to pass with flying colours and than your results are
compared with other students scores. In terms of examining, this is the easiest
form of assessing students progress, therefore this is the most popular criterion for selecting the best students. 
On the other hand, are test really measurable? There are few
undeniable drawbacks to making test. Firstly, they are extremely stressful.
Especially in terms of final examination - it is really hard to focus and stay
level-headed when you are aware of seriousness of the exam. After years of
intense studying there is only one attempt to demonstrate your talent. Even
when it comes to regular tests during classes, stress is indispensable.
Moreover, sometimes students are just taught how to solve
the tests. The real knowledge fades into the background. Examination result is
the only thing that matters. For instance, you can be well-read and cultivated,
but not knowing the testing techniques, you are not allowed to go far. Teachers
don’t have time to pass on a proper knowledge to their students, because they
are under pressure of incoming examination. Test results can dictate the fate
of a school and a pupil’s educational future, thus teacher focus on importance
of key words and the like.
All in all, tests are common system for measuring knowledge.
When done right, they can be really effective. Nevertheless, in some cases the
actual goal of education can be distorted
by tests.
And what do you think about tests? Are you opposed to them or just believe they are important part of our school life?
I believe there is no better option for teacher, to check the knowledge of students, then give a test. However the results hardly ever show the real state of knowledge (not even mention the effort you put to learn this). Mostly because during tests stress is one of your biggest enemy. Some of the students, even well-prepared, can't focus on tasks.
ReplyDeleteTests also require thinking in schematically way. That's why students don't want to broaden their minds, they just want to do well in a test. I'm pretty sure that is not the point of learning.
The tests don't check the student's knowledge. They are arranged schematically. You can "shoot". They aren't to thinking. Of course for teachers are easier to check. But the student doesn't require any work. Also I am happy when I see the exam test. But it doesn't check my knowledge and skills.
ReplyDeleteI think tests are okay. Not great or awful, just alright. What I mean is, teachers can grade students based on other things, such as participation in class, homework, etc., but there isn't really a fairer way in order to set an average for a bigger amount of people. What I'm saying is that something like the 'matura' test in Poland is always going to be a fairer assessment then, say, the sum of their school grades. Tests grade you on cold, hard facts: you either know the answer to something, or you don't. While people say that stress is a factor, they're right, but what, do they expect to never get stressed in their job and such? Are they always going to explain mistakes with stress? People know they're going to be tested, so I don't understand why they see stress as such an obstacle. You can guess answers of course, but you'll never get high marks with that. And isn't luck a sort of skill as well?
ReplyDeleteTests are like democracy - not perfect, but there's no one better. Something must check our knowledge, and somebody have to check this what checked our knowledge... When there's one teacher and at best twenty students, he can't use oral exam. There's no time for this. The worst are final test or something similar... because this one test define who you are. Humans are complex machine with millions emotional, social or mind process inside. One test can't judge who we are, and define our future.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion tests are stressful but effective. When you have deadline and preasure you work harder and faster. For me there is one stupid thing in tests system - in many cases there is only one exam at last. For example we learn for 3 or 4 years to do matura exam and it decides of our future. It's only one exam! But we could have worst day and don't get good marks. It's unfair. I think tests are effective when they are regural and the mark is an average of all exams in particular period of time. Regularity is a key to knowledge, not a stressful exams with big content of informations.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to tests in schools, it is said that it is the best way of checking students’ knowledge. It is likely that giving tests brings the most desirable results because it forces students to spend time on exercising, learning some issues by heart, solving or reading material. Tests motivate me every time to spend time on learning at home. Unfortunately, taking an exam is so stressful for me. Why? I don’t know. I’m so stressed when I know well, when I’m aware of my knowledge. It is connected with being unsure if I pull out all the stops. The pressure is sometimes too big to defeat it. I think, tests are very important part of school life because thank to tests teachers can fair grade student’s knowledge. Sometimes results don’t illustrate real abilities.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that there is no better solution to check students' knowledge than making a test. It's fast and 'kind of fair' - everyone answers the same question and it's easy to compare their results. However, it's not the same when it comes to final tests like matura. One test can't check your real skills. Moreover, there are plenty of tricks how to solve the tests. When I was in school, we were taught what to do to not lose points. It wasn't that bad, but let's be honest - is that a real aim of teaching?
ReplyDeleteCheating during the test is popular. Everyone can do this. Of cource if he knows how. So I think that tests are not a good idea to check students skills. It is nessesery only to have marks in register. In my opinion if taecher know student because they have classes for so long time teacher is able to say what student can do.
ReplyDeleteI think that test in a popular metody to check knowledge beacuse is fair and easy for teachers. I don't like tests because it show only some elements of your skills. Also it's easier to cheat. You could also guess and in theory have 25% correct answers. I think that students mostly like tests. That's because you don't have to stress too much before them. But from the second hand you are also less motivated.
ReplyDeleteIn our country tests are main measure the level of knowledge. Unfortunatly, in my opinion it is not good way because as told my teacher "students cheat". I can't do this, but in my observations show that this is true. So tests don't good solution.
ReplyDeleteTests are good to motivate studens to learn because they can learn on their mistakes. I noticed that if I do a mistake on my exam I remember it for very long time. It is very effective way of studying, at least for me. I agree that tests not always show how smart we are or how much we know because of stress we have during exams but I think we have to work to not panic everytime we have to do something important.
ReplyDeleteTest is a good method to measure student results but not the best one. In my opinion students should write the tests, essays and should speak with the teacher. All kinds of exam are necessary. In the schools where are a number of students writing the tests dominate. It is the most easy method of rating students’ skills. In my department (Institute of History) all exams are speaking. We have to prepare a few books and general information about age and context. We are not able to cheat during the exam and we don’t know the questions. This is the quite demanding method.
ReplyDeleteIt happens that the tests are stressful. Especially, when we realize the seriousness of the situation. But often it happens that we have a bad day and one test may decide to our grade, and even about the future, such as "matura". Even if the whole year went well for us. What about forms of the exam? For me, it shouldn't be oral exams. It's really stressful to present the results of our science teacher face-to-face. Often under such pressure we forget what we moment before knew so I prefer written exams.
ReplyDeleteI realize that the tests are necessary because the check state of the art student, but also have their drawbacks. I agree with Łukasz that very often from tests our future depends. Some of them can be very stressful (the baccalaureate). I believe that in addition to the tests should be used to create a presentation or essay, because they also require zaanagażowania and knowledge, and are not as stressful. I do not agree with Andrzej. Not always and not for everyone is the best oral exam. For me, this is the worst form of examination, because very nervous then and I can not concentrate.
ReplyDeleteMost of them - yes, their're necessery. Students always want to pass their tests, so they are learning, even it is "last minute learning". Test is deadline, time when you can pass or feed up. Me and huge number of my friends are preparing for our examines earlier, because we know that we will have passed them. There's one kind of exam which is really stressful for me and I hate it - oral exam. I feel like all informations have escaped from my brain and I can't focus. Not only me have got this problem. Oh, and waiting for results - it's as horrible as taking an exam.
ReplyDeleteTest are stressful for students, but this is almost the best way for teacher to check their knowledge. I prefer writing than speaking exams, the grades are much more objective. I have one academical teacher who always makes oral exams and the only thing he does is giving each student one question. Is this checking if I've learnt the material well? Or is it just a test of 'being lucky'? The perfect exam consists of writing and essay, test and speaking.
ReplyDeleteI just think that test are the best form of checking the knowledge. It might be stressful but when you have been studying hard for a long time, what can go wrong?
ReplyDeleteThe problem with tests is they don’t really test our knowledge. Some people are extremely stressed, there is possibility that somebody has hard time, headache or anything which make him or her less efficient. It’s not only about knowledge of person but also about thinking under pressure. It also gives possibilities to cheat. Oral exams are harder to cheat but also more stressful. However we need some kind of tests to check if somebody learn something.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion test are necessary part od schooling. Teachers need to see if you are learning or not, to see whether you understand the material or not, whether he need to revise one more time or can move forward to another unit. Test and then grades are also a good way to motivate and stimulate students. Your hard work can be appreciate :)
ReplyDeleteSystematic tests from narrow specified material? Yes. Huge school-leaving exams deciding on your future? Big NO. Tests show nothing. They only verify how much knowledge is a student able to absorb in a particular period of time. They don't prove if someone is smart or not. They make many students discouraged. When truncated often-taken tests are let's say quite OK, I do not get the idea of exams after 3 years of learning. What should they prove? Who spent more time over books having no social life? Or maybe whose parents have more money to send their kids for extra classes? Testing have nothing to do with actual level of knowledge and I am sure that most of students will forget most of formulas or historical dates learnt at school. Education (at least in Poland) is nongrowing curriculum having nothing in common with everyday living. No practical knowledge. So if someone tells me that tests are developing our minds I have nothing to talk about with such a person. I hope that the system will change and instead of testing there will appear something like projects showing your researchers and experiences. But I'm not positive about the change. I think at first all teachers should change their attitude. They feel convenient with sorting students for those who learn teachers' beliefs and for those who don't (in fact, they have their own worldview denied by the teachers). So if you ask me about testing, I am against them.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion tests are positive when students takes them regulary, when some part of material was realised. It is good way to check their knowledge and motivate them to repeat discussed issues. Then their knowledge is self-perpetuating. It this case I am aproponent of tests.
ReplyDeleteBut if tests are decise about students' future I don't agree with this system - I think that stress with which students come to exam is so large that it can paralyse even top of the class. I don't know what system could be better than tests... Maybe teachers should regard for yearlong work which does students? Maybe they shouldn't add so many stress before exams?...
I think tests are one of the best tools to check students' knowledge. Nobody has invented any better way to do it. Of course, there are some bad sides of it. Firstly, tests and especially exams generate huge stress and not everyone can cope with it. Secondly, you can have knowledge required to pass a test, but you don't know testing techniques and you will fail the exam. Advantage of testing is that it really helps you to examine your cognizance, so you know, what things you should still revise. It is also easy to compare students' results, when all of them take the same exam ("matura" for example).
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion tests are good motivation to learn. Students don’t have a choice and they know that if they don’t learn they will not pass an exam. But on the other hand because of stress which is closely related with exams and tests, remembering everything while you take an exam is for some people very hard. They can’t think straight so they fail. To sum up I think there should be other ways to complete a year or a class, and exams and tests shouldn’t be highest rated to a final grade, because the results of the exam are not always compatible with the student's knowledge.
ReplyDeleteFor me tests are not efficient and don't check students' knowledge. What is more standardised tests like 'matura' are not measurable and just ridiciulous to the point that you need to know the testing techinques otherwise you probably won't even pass it regardless the fact that you do have the required(real)knowledge. The actual goal of education should be to prepare students to their real life and for me people should learn whatever they want and are good at and if they do so there's no use checking their knowledge, because they learn it for themselves. If somebody doesn't feel like something is really his cup of tea tests won't motivate him to learn it or he will pass it with poor results and a huge amount of stress.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion about test is simple there are important, but teachers who give it to students have to know how to use it. What do I mean in this way? Before they gave it to us they should try to deliver us this knowledge how they can best. A lot of teachers don't do it and like it is said in the text above learn us how to solve the exams so in this situations there is no point to do such a thing. For me is also every time a little bit of stress before test but I belive that test are important part of our life. People prepare to them much more and more effective because every one want to have good grates .While we practise to exams we repeat it many times ,that's the reason why we remember more after them. Summarizing test are stresfull but effective of course not everyone must agree with my opinion so I'm very interested in other people's proposals.
ReplyDeleteI believe that tests are really important part of our school life, but they have several disadvantages.
ReplyDeleteIf the teachers didn't organize them, almost nobody would learn regularly because of lack of motivation. Thanks to tests students need to learn systematically and do exercises regularly. It helps them in writing a Matura Exam/ exams at the end of the semester (if they are in college).
Unfortunately, the tests are often very detailed and don't check students' knowledge - just they check if the student can memorize a few chapters from the book. Tests are often built of tasks: "count, how much it is..." or "what is...?" or "when the king of France met his wife?". It kills the creativity of students and doesn't develop them. Tasks should be formulated in order to check their knowledge in practice, for example "what would you do if you wanted to get to ... and you would have only x $?". Such questions would prepare them for life, not just for the exam. Besides, tests don't always check students' knowledge, just their cunning and ability to cheat. It's unfair to students who learn and know a lot, but they're honest and have worse grades than cheating people.
In spite of everything, I haven't any ideas for a better way to check students' knowledge than tests.
I believe there is no better option for the teacher, to check the knowledge of students, then give a test. However, the results hardly ever show the real state of knowledge. They are arranged schematically. You can "shoot". They aren't to thinking. In my opinion tests are stressful but effective. When you have deadline and pressure you work harder and faster. For me there is one stupid thing in tests system - in many cases there is only one exam at last. It's unfair because we can always have a bad day or the questions may not be right for us.
ReplyDeleteAs most people I'm not a huge fan of studying, but in my opinion tests are really important. I don't think that its results indicate about one's inteligence but defenitly indicate how much work someone puts into the subject. Tests are also very fair method of testing because they are the same for all the students in class.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand tests are created in a certain way which leads to certain thinking. It might seem that same creative students who have talent will not be able to show it during the exams. Also taking exams is a big pressure and it might be just hard for some students.
Like the majority of people, I don't like tests. But I can't imagine bettter teaching tool than tests - they are written so there's an evidence for a grade, fast and easy to prepare and check. I agree that test are stressful but on the other hand, the whole life is combined of stress so it's not an argument. Many students forget what they have learnt after tests and I have the same situation. But I don't forget everything, it's always some part that stays in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI think noone likes tests, but in my opinion this is the best way to check how students are prepared for exams. I also think that regular tests are much better that one big test at the end. Students can remember much more. Tests are also a good motivation to learn, because some students would'nt learn without them.
ReplyDeleteI think tests are not bad. They are not good either. They are OK. Of course, if they are fair and adequate to what they learn. There is nothing worse than a question about a subject that was not there. I also think that tests for additional motivation to learn. Unfortunately, they are very stressful when there are many, but I think that when the student is systematic, he will not have problems with the tests.
ReplyDeleteI think that tests are important part of our school life. Nobody like them but this is their nature. But sometimes form of test or exams leave much to be desired. Sometimes question are stupid or concern topics, which we didn't learn on classes.Sometimes when we talk about exams like matura, come up a problem, that this type of exam are very schematic. We can learn how do exercises without understanding. The problem is also with test with open answers, because it is very hard to be obiective in marking. To conclude, tests are disadvantages but they are necessary.
ReplyDeleteLet's be serious - a Learn-Write-Forget rule is the only one that matters. In my opinion tests bring more disadvantages - It's really stresful for those who care about learning, those who don't care won't be stressed anyway - so maybe it's a way to punish learning students, huh? After a year or even a half you won't remember almost anything unless it's that important that you often use it. Again learning should be something we want to do not what we have to do, so it should be our business to learn properly and keep knowledge, lazy ones won't learn anyway - that's their decision.
ReplyDeleteThe humanity needed some factor to measure the people's intelligence so they have invited the tests. Now we see that the examinations just deeped the difference between the stupid ones and the smart ones, the brave ones and the scared ones etc. Why? Because the intelligent pass well and the braves can fihgt for their stuffs (when they don't agree with a teacher's mark).
ReplyDeleteBut how differently would we compare the results?
For me tests are motivation to start learning, but on the other hand it's true that after test I forget majority of material. Really important information stay in my head, but not always. I think that much effective way is prepareing notes or presentations, because when we want to give our knowldge to other students then we try to elaborate it and understand it.
ReplyDeleteIn general, I think that everyone needs another way to learn, but test are the best way to gain some compromise.
I believe that test are important. They are really stressful and not always give proper picture of students abilities, but I can’t come up with better idea of testing someone’s knowledge. They also gave a motivation to students to learn systematically. Testing it’s better than writing assignment, because it’s checking general knowledge and essay focus only on one chosen topic. Oral exams also aren't the best because they are even more stressful and also checks smaller part of given material.
ReplyDeleteI think that the student's knowledge should be measure somehow. But it should be polish. One test should not affect on all student's future. I am oppossed learning only for tests. This is one of the reason why they have to learn a lot of unneccesary things. In addition, they are making some exercises automaticlly. And for me it do not show real knowledge.
ReplyDeleteIt would be the easiest to claim that tests are non-effective and unnecessary. Nonetheless, I have got no clue how measure knowledge if I reject test. In spite of the fact that tests have some drawbacks I recon it as the most efficient learning tool. Generally speaking, test summarize knowledge and motivate students to regular learning. Furthermore, in some way results are comparable and assess if students gained knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI believe that test are important part of our school life. It forces to be up to date, spend time on exercising and learn by heart. It makes people stressed. They are afraid of failing the exam and maybe it is the reason of motivation.
Regular tests are good way to check learning progress and point out what has to be improved but on the condition that they check actual knowledge. They should contain questions about crucial information from certain topic instead of being just bunch of tricky questions about irrelevant details. Revising for that kind of test would be useful and easier because when you know its importance, you are more motivated to lear. I’m not a big fan of test like matura exam because they aren’t reliable- they check how you deal with stress more than they check your knowledge. Tests have potential- we just have to know how to take advantage of it.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion tests aren't bad but they should be better prepared. For example regular test at the language cours to check level of skills is good idea but school-leaving exam should not be in form of test. In this type of measuring knowledge are a lot of possibilites to have luck or bad luck what makes them unreliable. Test is not bad idea but not for exams decisive for whole life.
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ReplyDeleteUnfortunatly in our country tests are main and the fastest measure the level of knowledge. In my opinion it`s not reliable but I believe that there is no better option. I prefer the practical form of exam.
I personally dislike tests and exams. They aren't accurate, as they don't really test your knowledge most of the time, but rather your short-term memory. Our generation's learned to study for the test, and immediately forget afterwards, rather than learning to remember knowledge long-term. Tests are good to keep tabs on students, and somewhat force them to study at all, but they shouldn't be the main way of evaluation as it so happens in Poland.
ReplyDeleteOne test shouldn’t be measure many years of studying, especially that most of students are very stressed during writing exam. Result of them can depend also on lucky, not only knowledge and ability of students. However there isn’t better way to compare results of education, what is necessary to get in college.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that tests are stressfull and they usually rather checks following the answer key than true knowledge and abilities. However on other side is there any other effective and the same for all people way of checking what students have learnt? I am affraid that even if tests are not perfect they are the best solution at our disposal.
ReplyDeleteI agree that tests not always can show us real knowledges of person. For the more they are very stressful. I personally think that they can’t show us the result of years of studying. On the other hand they motivate people to study more, but I think that all the info that person learn for test he will not remember after three days after test.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we live in "passing-exams culture" in which the most important (and desireable) skill is to solve it properly. Real knowledge actually has no matter, because we need to prepare to other tests. Instead of learning well and memorizing for a long time, we immediately forget all of it. We should replace them with oral exams and writing essays. These methods are better to check students' knowledge and require creativity from them.
ReplyDeleteFor me exams aren't good way to check someone's knowledge. For example I like oral exam. During exam I conversation with examinator about something, and he see if I have learnt. During written exam I can misunderstand question, etc. Of course there are people who hate oral examination, because for them it could be stresfull.
ReplyDeleteTests are not effective way of checking abilities, especially these written ones. I thing the best option to check somebody's skills is to speak with him for few minutes, ask questions and it's easy to see how the person is presenting his knowledge. There is also less probability of cheating, and result are more suitable to the reality.
ReplyDeleteI know that tests are necessary, but form of them should be changed to protect our pupils from only preparing to a test instead of getting abilities.
I think it's hard to explicitly decide if test are good or bad, I think neither. Yes, they are stressful and time consuming, but it is really hard to find a solution or an option of checking someone's knowledge without stress. Nevertheless tests are a good way to check someone's knowledge only if they are designed wisely, for every level od advancement and equal difficulty.
ReplyDeletePersonally I had tests, they make me sick, but in order to improve myself I take them, and afterwards I don't regret it.
I agree that testing is more effective than just repeating material. Feeling slightly stressed is more motivating to learn. However, if we are talking about the high school diploma, I agree that while everyone is writing the same it is easier to compare the results, but not everyone had the same opportunities to learn from it, because each person is different, as well as everyone went to a different school or had a different teacher, and this has a huge impact. I believe that tests are important to motivate you to learn, but they should be more individual. As it is written in the text, at some point students learn how to take a test, not how to gain knowledge.
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