Part 3 of 8 in The Emperor has no Clothes: How do we fix a broken schooling system?← Part 2Part 4 →
This chapter discusses the difference between exams and real learning in the context of student assessment. It highlights the limitations of exams in truly evaluating a student's understanding and abilities.
- Exams are often confused with true assessment of student abilities.
- Exams typically test memorization rather than practical skills or understanding.
- Real learning involves understanding, explanation, application, creation, and problem-solving.
- The focus on exams leads to prioritizing marks over genuine learning.
Sceptic: Exams may not be perfect, but surely we need some way of assessing students.
Me: Of course we do.
The problem is not assessment. The problem is confusing exams with assessment.
If I wanted to know whether you could cook, would I give you a three-hour written examination on cooking?
If I wanted to know whether you could swim, would I ask you to memorise a textbook about swimming?
Yet this is exactly what we do to children.
Real learning is demonstrated through understanding, explanation, application, creation and problem-solving.
An exam mainly tests whether a child can reproduce the expected answer under artificial conditions on a particular day.
And because exams determine admission to college, parents, teachers and students behave rationally: they optimise for marks.
Whatever schools may say about curiosity and creativity, the examination system teaches everyone what actually matters.
Marks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main issue with exams as a form of assessment?
Exams often test memorization under artificial conditions rather than true understanding or practical skills.
How does the current examination system affect students?
It encourages students, parents, and teachers to focus on optimizing marks rather than fostering curiosity and creativity.
What constitutes real learning according to the chapter?
Real learning is demonstrated through understanding, explanation, application, creation, and problem-solving.
Why are exams still used if they are not effective?
Exams are used because they provide a standardized way to determine college admissions, despite their limitations.