Exam; A Test of Knowledge?

Question

Apparently, Scholars and general public on the term “exam” a diverse, opinionated and deep-thinkers group were at one with one another in their view on it, and this view is that: its purpose is to test someone’s knowledge on spoken or written aspects. I am an exception on that matter, really exception. The exception that proves the rule is a certain experience I recently gained.

Viz.:

Despite my friend’s remarkable hunker-down to pass his exam for re-making his past deficiency, he lugubriously failed to re-make it and wonderingly enough, some of his student whom they coincidently sat that very exam together fortunately made it well.

Thus, this odd against odds enfeebled incalculable numbers of peoples’ effort and hope toward the thought of passing exam. It also built a tangible remonstrative feeling in me on what others are saying about exam as the test of knowledge.

Sincerely, who is then supposed to be blamed? Himself? Exam body? Or God?

I, as an individual with a unique mood of acceptance and comprehension, think that the reason behind this is a case that needs not to blame anybody. Exam is not a test of knowledge but lucky, so, just pray to be lucky at the moment of marking your scripts.

This is my view my fellow good people. What’s yours?

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

There is an element of luck involved. If the questions relate to the areas you have studied and revised most, then you will do better than if they relate to areas you haven't worked so hard on.

Your knowledge of the subject is very important.

Another aspect which is very important is exam technique. Your friend probably has poor exam technique, if he knows the subject well, and that is why he didn't do as well as other people. You can't say it is down to luck. Do you think the people marking the exam just gave marks at random without bothering to look at how well the questions had been answered? It's no good just studying the subject, you have to be able to write about it well, and be smart about how you approach the exam. Did your friend spend too long on one question and neglect the others? Did he really answer the questions exactly as they were asked or did he just write down something he knew but wasn't really relevant? That's a mistake a lot of people make. They quickly scan the question, go zooming off on their own thoughts, and end up writing something that doesn't answer the question at all. Did his writing and language skills let him down? Did he feel nervous and was badly affected by this? Was he able to remember what he knew? Did he know as much as he thought he did?

Exams are hard. Personally, I'd much rather take a course that is judged by an exam than by your coursework, as they suit my temperament. I know a lot of other people would rather be judged on their coursework than an exam. However, surely an exam is the only way to know that you really are testing that individual person. People cheat all the time on their coursework or at least get helped on it. Someone could come here and get help with their essays and you'd think they spoke wonderful English - until you put them in a situation where they have to do it all by themselves. Likewise, I've been helping a friend recruit someone for their company and everyone was told that good IT skills were essential. Lots of people had various IT qualifications and certificates but when we asked them to do a few simple things on the computer they weren't able to at all. When you ask about their qualifications it turns out that they'd been awarded for work they'd done in the classroom, being able to ask other students and the teacher for help all the time. Completely pointless.

Exam; A Test of Knowledge?

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