Hello, lovely people. It has been a really long time since I have posted anything. To be honest, whenever I got free from my college exams, I have been writing something constantly, but in the end, the final draft did not seem perfect enough to post and for people to read. I was in exam crunch due to my last college year, so I needed to focus on my studies. And now THAT I AM DONE WITH MY LAST BOARD EXAM today, here I am, at your service, breaking ice on another taboo subject. One that some parents MIGHT NOT appreciate. So here we go, my thoughts at your service, for you to analyze and weigh(erm.. I should probably skip to the main part :) Anyway, Enjoy!)
As judged by the topic, we are going to look at an in-depth analysis of the concept of exams and whether they are really the right tool to assess every student, even after knowing that, well, every mind is built differently?
So, what can an exam be defined as? According to Google search(yep, I research from Google), "An exam can be defined as a critical examination, an observation, or, to be clear, a basis for evaluation. Or if anyone still did not get what an exam means, let me break it down. So, most of the examinations take place in this way. You are given a question paper consisting of a fixed number of questions that you need to answer. Now these questions can be multiple choice based, or short response based, or they may even ask you to write a piece of composition in a given amount of time. Once you submit your responses according to the requirements, your responses will be evaluated, and you will be graded accordingly.
- ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE AND GRASP OF CONCEPT
Exams can be used as a standardized measure of the average capability of a well-performing student. It is an effective method to evaluate the extent and depth of the concept grasped by the student. - IMPLEMENTING DISCIPLINE AND TIME MANAGEMENT
An exam is usually based on a time crunch method, which means that the given test must be completed within a given amount of time. This teaches the students to implement discipline to solve every question in an appropriate method in a sequential manner, so that all questions are answered within the given time. - IMPROVISING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
Exams often present questions that require critical thinking and the application of learned concepts, which strengthens problem-solving abilities. Under timed conditions, students must analyze problems quickly, identify solutions, and manage resources efficiently. This pressure to think creatively and apply knowledge fosters skills valuable in both academics and real-life scenarios.
- IDENTIFYING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Exams help both students and teachers pinpoint areas of proficiency and areas needing improvement, guiding targeted learning strategies.
- RISING LEVELS OF STRESS AND ANXIETY
The pressure to perform well in exams can lead to heightened stress and anxiety among teenagers. According to a study published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 46% of high school students in Seoul, South Korea, reported depression due to academic stress, which in severe cases led to suicidal ideation. Wikipedia
- GENDER DISPARITIES IN EXAM-RELATED STRESS
Research indicates that exam stress affects genders differently. A survey by Bytes revealed that 67.3% of female respondents identified exam pressure as a barrier to learning, compared to 38.1% of male respondents. This disparity suggests the need for gender-sensitive support systems in educational institutions. Bytes
- IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Excessive exam pressure has been linked to various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. In the UK, a survey found that four out of five young people felt that exams negatively impacted their mental health, with some turning to harmful coping mechanisms such as substance abuse. Yorkshire Evening Post
The pressure to perform well in exams can lead to heightened stress and anxiety among teenagers. According to a study published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 46% of high school students in Seoul, South Korea, reported depression due to academic stress, which in severe cases led to suicidal ideation. Wikipedia
Research indicates that exam stress affects genders differently. A survey by Bytes revealed that 67.3% of female respondents identified exam pressure as a barrier to learning, compared to 38.1% of male respondents. This disparity suggests the need for gender-sensitive support systems in educational institutions. Bytes
Excessive exam pressure has been linked to various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. In the UK, a survey found that four out of five young people felt that exams negatively impacted their mental health, with some turning to harmful coping mechanisms such as substance abuse. Yorkshire Evening Post
- South Korea's Education System
South Korea's rigorous education system places immense pressure on students to excel academically. The competitive nature of exams, such as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), has been associated with high levels of stress and a significant incidence of teenage suicides. Wikipedia
- China's Gaokao Examination
The Gaokao, China's national college entrance exam, is known for its difficulty and high stakes. The intense preparation and societal expectations surrounding the Gaokao have led to increased stress among students, contributing to a phenomenon known as "sang" culture, characterized by apathy and a lack of motivation among youth. Wikipedia
- Examination Stress in Pakistan
In Pakistan, studies have shown that more than 40% of undergraduate students suffer from stress, with frequent examinations and high parental expectations being significant contributors. This stress can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms and negatively affect students' academic performance and overall well-being.PMC
MITIGATING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF EXAMS
South Korea's rigorous education system places immense pressure on students to excel academically. The competitive nature of exams, such as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), has been associated with high levels of stress and a significant incidence of teenage suicides. Wikipedia
The Gaokao, China's national college entrance exam, is known for its difficulty and high stakes. The intense preparation and societal expectations surrounding the Gaokao have led to increased stress among students, contributing to a phenomenon known as "sang" culture, characterized by apathy and a lack of motivation among youth. Wikipedia
In Pakistan, studies have shown that more than 40% of undergraduate students suffer from stress, with frequent examinations and high parental expectations being significant contributors. This stress can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms and negatively affect students' academic performance and overall well-being.PMC
- Implementing Support Systems
Educational institutions can play a pivotal role in supporting students by providing counseling services, stress management workshops, and creating an environment encouraging open discussions about mental health. For instance, establishing counseling clinics in schools and colleges can help students cope with exam-related stress. Frontiers
- Promoting Balanced Assessment Methods
Diversifying assessment methods beyond traditional exams can alleviate pressure. Incorporating project-based assessments, presentations, and continuous evaluation can provide a more comprehensive picture of a student's abilities and reduce the emphasis on high-stakes testing.
- Educating Parents and Teachers
Raising awareness among parents and teachers about the signs of exam-related stress and the importance of emotional support is crucial. Encouraging a culture that values effort and learning over mere grades can help reduce the undue pressure on students.PMC+Yorkshire Evening Post+Frontiers+The Times of India
NOW, SHOULD EXAMS REALLY BE NECESSARY?
After taking all points into consideration, weighing the pros and cons, I think I have formed my opinion on this topic. In my point of view, I think that the concept of exams is not wrong; it does evaluate students and pushes them to be better at what they do. But the problem lies with the exam-conducting body and the way that these exams are conducted. The method by which these exams are taken is wrong. Especially in Pakistan, children are pressurized to achieve good grades by rote learning, and this greatly harms the cause. You see, exams are taken to evaluate the depth of concept grasped by the student through a concept-based method. But in Pakistan, the caliber of the candidates is evaluated by the length of their answers and how well they present their papers, how well they use black and blue markers to underline the headings, and draw designs to make the paper look presentable. To some extent, making your answer book look presentable is a good thing, but that should not mean that the candidate does not focus on properly answering the question and wasting their time on the design. Additionally, children are encouraged to rote-learn answers from notes of certain institutes, and the same questions are repeated almost everywhere. Trust me, I just finished my last board exam, and over the last 4 years of giving these exams, I have seen nothing but repetition.
The education department of the government designs a proper curriculum to be followed over the entire academic year, and not just one day before the exam, and sadly, this is what the majority of the students in Pakistan do. The debate on this topic can be very long, but the central point remains the same: the exam-conducting body needs to change its methods of examination and redesign its scales of evaluation for answers. That will be the only way through which every student can be equally evaluated and everyone has a fair chance to prove themselves. That way, the system will be justified.
So my friends, this was it. Do let me know what you think of my opinion, and do share your thoughts, I love reading your comments.Until next time, take care, lovely people.Signing off.
Educational institutions can play a pivotal role in supporting students by providing counseling services, stress management workshops, and creating an environment encouraging open discussions about mental health. For instance, establishing counseling clinics in schools and colleges can help students cope with exam-related stress. Frontiers
Diversifying assessment methods beyond traditional exams can alleviate pressure. Incorporating project-based assessments, presentations, and continuous evaluation can provide a more comprehensive picture of a student's abilities and reduce the emphasis on high-stakes testing.
Raising awareness among parents and teachers about the signs of exam-related stress and the importance of emotional support is crucial. Encouraging a culture that values effort and learning over mere grades can help reduce the undue pressure on students.PMC+Yorkshire Evening Post+Frontiers+The Times of India
After taking all points into consideration, weighing the pros and cons, I think I have formed my opinion on this topic. In my point of view, I think that the concept of exams is not wrong; it does evaluate students and pushes them to be better at what they do. But the problem lies with the exam-conducting body and the way that these exams are conducted. The method by which these exams are taken is wrong. Especially in Pakistan, children are pressurized to achieve good grades by rote learning, and this greatly harms the cause. You see, exams are taken to evaluate the depth of concept grasped by the student through a concept-based method. But in Pakistan, the caliber of the candidates is evaluated by the length of their answers and how well they present their papers, how well they use black and blue markers to underline the headings, and draw designs to make the paper look presentable. To some extent, making your answer book look presentable is a good thing, but that should not mean that the candidate does not focus on properly answering the question and wasting their time on the design. Additionally, children are encouraged to rote-learn answers from notes of certain institutes, and the same questions are repeated almost everywhere. Trust me, I just finished my last board exam, and over the last 4 years of giving these exams, I have seen nothing but repetition.
The education department of the government designs a proper curriculum to be followed over the entire academic year, and not just one day before the exam, and sadly, this is what the majority of the students in Pakistan do.
So my friends, this was it. Do let me know what you think of my opinion, and do share your thoughts, I love reading your comments.
Well said
ReplyDelete<3
DeleteWorth Reading it
ReplyDeleteThanks alot.
Delete