The Origins of Exams: Why They Still Matter in Modern Education

Exams were invented a long time ago, so that teachers find out what and how much students have learnt. These were created to check learning and help students to prepare for the future. Today, exams are important because they prepare us for future challenges.

Who Invented Exams

Henry Fischel was the first person who invented the exams and it was the Imperial examination that was first conducted in China. The Chinese wanted to find out whom smart and who do important things. So they created exams to check the knowledge of students.

Many years later, other countries like the Greek and the Roman introduced exams in school. Nowadays, Exams help teachers to see how much students have learned and help students to understand what they need to study more.

Why Exams Were Invented: The Purpose Behind the Practice?

An exam is invented to check how much a student has learned. It is a way for teachers to find out is students have learned what was taught in class. Exams help to show the knowledge and skills of students.

The main reasons for inventing exams are:

To Test Knowledge:

Exams tell us how much a student has understood the topics what was taught in class

Helps to Improve Learning:

By taking exams, students can see what they need to study more.

To Create Fairness:

Everyone takes the same exam, so it’s a fair way to compare what each student knows.

In short, exams were invented to help teachers and students understand where learning is strong and where improvement is needed. With this, we can learn more and teach more.

What are the different types of exams invented?

There are various types of exam are conducted to check the knowledge and skills of students. Here are some of the most common ones:

Written Exams:

A written exam was invented for students to answer the questions in writing. It can be short answers or essays or solving of mathematical problems.

Multiple-Choice Exams:

In these exams, options are provided and student has to choose correct answer from given options. This is a quick way to take the exams.

Oral Exams:

An oral exam was invented to answer the questions asked by teachers or examiners by speaking. This type of exam is used to test language, skills.

Practical Exams:

In a practical exam, you do something to show your skills. For example, in a science practical exam, you will perform an experiment, while in a music practical exam, you play an instrument. While in an art practical exam, you draw something.

Online Exams:

Online exams are taken via a computer or the Internet. Such exams can be written or multiple-choice questions or other types of exams.

Open-Book Exams:

This type of exams allows students to use the books used in the class as well as other writing materials to solve the questions asked.

Advantages of Exams

Test of knowledge:

Exams help to check how much a student has learned and understood. For example, if we study math, the exam shows how well we understand addition and subtraction.

Practice and Remembering:

Exams help you practice and remembering important things. It is a kind of an exercise for your brain. Example: When you study for a math exam, you practice and remembering how to add and subtract. This makes your brain stronger in mathematics.

Identify strengths and weaknesses

: Exams show in which areas the student has mastered and which ones they need to work on. This helps the student and teacher to plan for improvement.

Prepare for the future:

Passed in the exam means a higher chance for student to get admission, into their top choice institution. Example: If a student wants to get admission into their top choice institution then it is important for him or her to get good marks in exams.

Challenges of Giving Exam

Nervousness and Stress:

Many students feel nervous or scared before or during an exam. They puzzle the mind and make it difficult to think properly. Imagine a student named Sara. For instance, she has a math exam and on the day of the exam she shivers and forgets how to solve all simple problems.

Time Pressure:

The majority of the exams are timed and most of the time this puts pressure on students. Example: In a 2-hour math exam, students may have to solve 50 questions. This means they get only 2 minutes for each question, which may be quite difficult when they are stuck up with a problem.

Difficulty Understanding Questions:

Sometimes the way questions are asked can be confusing. This makes it very difficult for students to know what exactly they have been asked.

Conclusion:

An exam was first introduced in China by Henry Fiskel. To check how much a student has learned and understood.

The main reasons exams were invented are:

Testing a student knowledge and understanding of what has been taught

To help students to find their strengths and weaknesses to improve their learning.

To provide a fair way to compare students' performance

There are so many types of exams used to test the students knowledge and skills. Here are some of the most common ones are written, multiple choices, oral, practical, online, and open book exams.

The advantages of exams such as Test of knowledge, Practice and Remembering, Identify strengths and weaknesses, and Prepare for the future. But they also provide challenges like Nervousness and Stress, time pressure, and Difficulty Understanding Questions.