RUDIMENTARY FORMS OF

TESTING IN CHINA IN 2200 B.C. ZOYA RAKESHI

FLORINA HARRIS
 INTRODUCTION

 Rudimentary forms of testing date back to

at least 2200 B.C. when the Chinese
emperor had his officials examined every
third year to determine their fitness for
office.
 Royal examinations began in either Late
Qin or Early Han Dynasty Period.
 Results of these examinations became
associated with granting formal civil service
titles and rankings.
 However, little archaeological evidence is
available to support this claim.
What did the examinations consists of?

 Prospective candidates were tested on five topics i.e,

civil law, military affairs, agriculture, revenue, and
geography.

 Proficiency in the Confucian classics was

emphasized in 1370 when the final form of Chinese
examination took place.

 Confucianism is one of the most influential

philosophies in the history of China, derived from
the ideas of Confucius. It is concerned with inner
virtue, morality, and respect for the community and
its values.
Stages of the Examination

 In the preliminary examination, candidates had to spend a day and a night in a small
isolated booth, composing essays on assigned topics and writing a poem. The 1- 7 %
who passed, moved up to the district examinations.

 The district examinations were gruelling and rigorous. These required three separate
sessions of three days and three nights.

 The 1-10 % who passed the district examinations were allowed the privilege of going
to Peking for the final round of examinations. Perhaps 3 percent of this final group
passed and became mandarins, eligible for public office. Mandarins were part of the
court gentry.
Objectivity and Reliability
 The concept of Objectivity and Reliability in testing were incorporated in this
system. To ensure Objectivity, the examinee’s identity was maintained
anonymous. They also proctored exams and ensured uniform test conditions.

 The Chinese discovered that a relatively small sample of an individual's

performance, measured under carefully controlled conditions, could yield an
accurate picture of that individual's ability to perform under much broader
conditions for a longer period of time. Hence, the concept of Reliability was
established.
Why are these examinations not prevalent
today ?
 The similarities between these traditions and current testing practices are mainly
superficial.
 Although the Chinese developed the external trappings of a comprehensive civil
service examination program, their testing practices were unnecessarily gruelling.
They also failed to validate their selection procedures.
 However, it appears that the examination program incorporated relevant selection
criteria.
 For example, in the written exams beauty of penmanship was weighted very
heavily. Good penmanship was essential for clear, exact communication
considering the highly stylistic features of Chinese written forms. Thus,
penmanship was probably considered a relevant predictor of suitability for civil
service employment.