Even ten angels cry aloud before the examination.

It is only man who

repeatedly takes the examination.

This may sound philosophical. But this is also reality to the day.

Examinations are an age-old practice of evaluating students. God had

tested the devotion of Ibrahim. But the modern system of examination is
the gift of the British rule.

From of examination today: prior notice regarding the date and

programme of the examination; many students curse it; the examination
sets the students’ heart pounding; however, students concentrate on
studies with longer hours; date approaches; question-papers distributed
by the invigilators; certain number of the questions to be done in allotted
hours; answer -books given to examiners; evolution and allotment of
marks; result published….

Why examinations are taken: to test a student’s mental ability and

knowledge.

Why examinations are necessary: to make students work-fear of

failure and humiliations; to know the comparative merit of students and
place them accordingly in their careers….

Why examination are evil: Examinations encourage creaming rather

than true and applicable knowledge; a game of chance and skill;
standard of marking not uniformly personal moods and approach of the
examiners may affect objectivity; one year’s efforts tested in just two-
three hours (?).. etc.

Suggestion for reform: A series of practical test, weekly tests,

objective –plus – subjective test; counseling for examinations to help
students to take the examinations in a sporting spirit; progressive idea is
to allow text-books in examination halls…

Conclusion: the analysis shows that despite the evil nature of

examinations we are bound to go along with them. This is because we
have not hitherto evolved any effective alternatives to them. However,
the tests and evaluation systems should be so designed that they make
a real test of a student’ s mental ability, originally and faculty of critical
thinking.
Essay No. 02

Examinations are a Necessary Evil

Examinations are an age-old method of evaluating student’s performance.

They are regarded as a curse by the students the approach of an
examination sets the students hearts pounding. They are left with the
choice of either draping out or applying themselves to working hard. There
is no escape from them for any student wishing to do well in life. There is
no short cut to success, No wonder, days before examinations are to
commence, the schools, colleges and universities appear deserted.
Students are given preparation time to get ready for taking the
examinations.

Examination is held to test student’s mental ability and to assess the work.
They have done during a term to determine whether they have been
utilizing or wasting their time. Teaching and testing go hand in hand and
every stage of scholastic activity, some type of test is used to measure
performance of the pupils. The concept of measurement is not something
new; we need some sort of tool to serve the purpose. A teacher cannot
help asking himself whether what has been taught by him or her has been
understood by the pupils. Thus the question that arises is what is the
means of knowing the level of a student’s understanding! Obviously the
answer is to conduct periodical tests.

Examinations are indeed a necessity because it is only the fear of

Examinations that makes students work. They know that they cannot hope
to fare well if they do not study the fear of failure and humiliation spur them
on to work hard, even if, only when the examination is approaching
Examinations therefore act as an incentive to effort and hard work. There
were no examinations, the merits of the various students could it be
judged, not would the majority of them take any interest in their studies.

The critics of examinations argue that the examinations are not a reliable
test of the ability of the students. They support their arguments by pointing
out the shortfalls in the examination system. They feel examination
encourage cramming. A student with a cramming power may just Study
for two months and do better than another student who has Studied”
throughout the year and has developed his ability to think critically
independently. Even his teachers may agree that he is the brighter of the
game of chance and skill.

Similarly, they feel, not wrongly, that the standard of marking can never
be uniform considering the number of examinees and examiners. No
examiner can humanly check all the papers on one subject of a particular
Class. So there is every likelihood of the personal moods and approach
an examiner affecting his marking. Some students may benefit from the
lenient approach of an examiner, while others may suffer because of the
strictness on the part of the other. Consequently a marginal case. Would
have to keep his fingers crossed and pray that God may send his paper
evaluation to a kind person.

In View of these arguments, if examinations are scrapped, then what

alternative method can be used to measure the student’s knowledge?
Moreover educationists now agree where is even a national debate going
on the issue-that a final examination is not to be the only test of ability.
The upon a series of practical tests, weekly tests, objective tests in whirl
instead of marks, grades are awarded. The results of all these should
taken into account while making an annual performance report of a
studies Although this approach is practical, it does not resolve the issue
of doing away with the examination system. On the other hand, students
feel under constant pressure when such an approach is implemented.
They are the left with no time for leisure and hobbies

Another alternative is that the teachers should keep a record of the daily
progress of the students and that no examination should be held. This is
kind of internal assessment method. It was in fact practised in ancient
times, when teaching was considered a very noble profession. But today
the teachers are not above narrow prejudices and human weaknesses of
character There is every possibility of their personal likes and dislike
infecting the assessment of the students. No such method has yet been
devised which can bring uniformity in marking solely on the basis of the
performance

Some complain of the element of chance in the examinations.

Sometimes, a student may not be able to make it to the examination hall
due to fever, accident or some other calamity that befalls him “A death in
the family of a near and dear one can be very disturbing and is likely to
affect the performance. However, such cases are rare. An element of
risk and chance is in everything we undertake to do. It is-not restricted to
examinations only.
Since no alternative method has yet been discovered to test a student’s
performance and ability objectively, examinations are a necessity. How:
her, the tests and. evaluation systems should be so designed that they
aim a real test of a student’s mental ability, originality and faculty of critical
thinking. This will make the students more regular, attentive and interested
in their studies Therefore we can say that examinations are necessary
evil. We cannot do away with them this is the only method so far
discovered to distinguish between the fit and the unfit, a scholar and a
duffer, and a worker and a shirker. Each individual has a high opinion of
himself. It is through examinations that we are able to ascertain the worth
of all. So the real ability of man lies in passing a test. Empty boasting
cannot get a person anywhere. However much we may decry” the
Examination, they remain the most important: tool of measuring ability in
various field.
“Examination”, a word that creates a mix of thoughts which consists fear, uncertainty, relief,
expectation etc in our minds. Examination is a thing which we have to give in every stage of our life.
It’s like a gate which unlocks the next level of our life. For some people, the examination is like hell,
the dome of death. But on the other hand, for some students it’s like a necessity, a spirit, a
motivation, a joy. So, it’s can be called that the EXAMINATION is a Necessary Evil. Let’s talk about the
necessity first. Examinations are like a mirror which make us see ourselves, how mature we have
become, what developments are needed in us. It actually reflects us, our personality, our character.
A man can’t shine in his life without giving a single examination. It’s not important if it is related to
only educational field. It can be an examination which relates to some different parts of our life.
Examinations make us aware of our weakness and make us mentally strong to strengthen those
weakness. It’s like a test where we have to prove our existence. And after proving that, we can
proudly say to the world, “Yeah! Buddy, I also exist in this world. You are not the only one here.” But
like everything, the examination also has a dark side of it. It has been seen that when a person faces
the failure, he can’t understand that what the almighty has done to him and before he realizes that
he has actually given him an another chance to shine, he begins to blame himself for his failure and
we all know what happens after that. But eventually after taking a slight look at the matter people
forget it and the role of tragedy continues. If we give a close view to the matter, it can be said that,
“GRADE CREATES DIVISION.” We are nationally integrated. But still, we are asked to make friends
according to their ‘Roll No’ in schools. We want to shine in life but not giving a foot on the throat of
happiness. But, the examination makes us do exactly what we are afraid of. We can’t change
everyone’s right. The role of examination should not be avoided. Because, if it’s looked closely, we’ll
find the examination returns us all of our efforts but, in instalments. The examination surely makes
us stronger but at times it also turns us into pieces. So it is totally justified to say that “THE
EXAMINATION IS A NECESSARY EVIL.”