Should written exams be replaced with other forms of assessment? [ENDS 18/04/2010]

[e5]

For many, they would personally choose to have the written exams, just for sense of ease, and the lack of 'botheredness'. It's not the right thing to do however, as said before, it would be naive and the fact that there isn't really any other alternatives other than coursework, it shouldn't go ahead.

[Yupt]

What they've started doing, (something I just completed for my coursework) is ask for at lease one piece of coursework to be completed in handwriting, so that when it comes to the exam they can compare the handwriting. I guess some idea that makes them think that it's a more secure system. Anyway, I feel that Exams are a unfair test for ones knowledge, this being because somebody could be very good at a subject knowing all the dates; be it History, or all the materials; whether it DT, but struggles under exam conditions because of nerves or just how they go about completing an exam. If there was a more friendly way of assessing ones ability other than exams then exams should be immediately abolished and replaced with this new logic.

[kuzkasate]

Well it depends really. Depends on what the new form of assessment it will be. For example, some people may find it very hard to interpret their thought or ideas on to a piece of paper. For example, some disabled people will find it almost impossible. Perhaps there should be different types of assessments. For example, you have a writing and an oral because then you can compare the two to see whether your genuinly good or find it easier to do a written rather than a oral.

This will then show who's capable of what and if say one person has done really well in a written, but did terribly in the oral, then they know that perhaps they are a shy person and are not confident.

However, with things like coursework you can find your answers on the internet, or by asking/copying friends. That means really, your not learning but if there was a speaking assessment then it would be clearler if you've revised and know your stuff, or if you've just gone, did the coursework and forgot what you did.

[MrPinkPanther]

What they've started doing, (something I just completed for my coursework) is ask for at lease one piece of coursework to be completed in handwriting, so that when it comes to the exam they can compare the handwriting. I guess some idea that makes them think that it's a more secure system. Anyway, I feel that Exams are a unfair test for ones knowledge, this being because somebody could be very good at a subject knowing all the dates; be it History, or all the materials; whether it DT, but struggles under exam conditions because of nerves or just how they go about completing an exam. If there was a more friendly way of assessing ones ability other than exams then exams should be immediately abolished and replaced with this new logic.

Untrue. People use nervousness as an excuse. I happen to get extremely nervous and stressed out and yes I do worse in real exams than mocks but people are going to face stress and strain throughout their life. Exams help you deal with it and if anything factoring in stress is a good thing, after all you're going to get it in a job aren't you? The fact remains that if you know your stuff then you know your stuff. It may be more difficult but if you really try you can still get the grade that you should, I mean I got an A in A Level History despite being Ill that morning from nerves.

[Circadia]

In my science class at school we do app tests aswell as standard written exams. my teacher thinks the written test put loads of pressure on us so we don't do very well and get low scores. some people preferr the app tests to the written exams but personally i think they shouldn't abolish written exam just offer an other alternative like the app tests

[DaveTaylor]

My whole first year of University has been assessed via Coursework, there is no actual official exam, and I bet about 50% of the class would have failed, including myself if there was an actual exam, exams cause people stress and other mental issues, I myself being schizophrenic get rather rattled by Exams, coursework is a nice easy way and a more relaxing way to work towards your grand, this actually shows you can do work and not just learn things and repeat them within a test, I believe exams should be removed and that coursework or similar ways of assessment should be enforced.

[Geraint]

Coursework is so easy in some subjects they might aswell just give you answers.

[MrPinkPanther]

I agree with coursework at a degree level where it would be near impossible to just copy your work off of the internet due to the high level of the work. It's just A Levels and GCSE's that I believe it is flawed at.

[Black_Apalachi]

Exams is how it's always been done and some people are better at exams than coursework so until I see a decent reason to change things, I say no.

[Jam]

They need to change the IT assessment. It doesn't measure your ability in ICT at all just how well you can copy exactly what the teacher just did. Plus most of the work involved could be done by someone in primary school.