Examinations
Conventional examinations which are normally unseen by students prior to the day they are attempted are widely used, partly because they have been used for years without question, and partly because they appear to have some advantages. These advantages include being able to sample a range of student learning and testing the students own work. However they also have many disadvantages, some of which can be overcome by selecting alternative examination methods.
The main disadvantage of unseen examinations is the extent to which they encourage students to memorise information for examinations rather than attempting to understand it as a component of their overall course. Open book exams go some way towards remedying this disadvantage. Two alternative methods of examining student understanding which remove the incentive to memorise are outlined below. In both cases, the suggestions work best with questions that do not have a unique correct answer.
Take Home Examinations
An examination method more in keeping with the type of "tests" students will encounter in their careers is the take home exam. Students are given the examination paper and 2 - 7 days to submit their responses. It assesses their ability to research, redraft, and use resources, and places less emphasis on speed and memory than conventional exams.
Advantages
- Elimination of memorising and question spotting.
- A reduction in pre-examination anxiety.
- Higher quality answers.
- Testing of something more worthwhile.
- Encouragement to students to keep good notes.
Disadvantages
- High and sustained level of anxiety during the take home period.
- Dominance of this subject during the take home period.
- Student competition for library books.
- Increased likelihood of students getting "expert" help.
Revealed Examination Questions
An excellent way to inform students about what really matters in your subject is to show them the examination paper at the beginning of the semester. This examination paper should contain a broad question on each major topic of the subject (say eight questions), and students should be told that the final examination will only contain (say) three of them and that they will be required to answer all three.
Advantages
- Students are clear about what the requirements of the course are.
- Exam answers are of a higher quality.
- Students are obliged to study all areas of the course (which does not happen with conventional examinations in which students know they will be given a choice).
- A reduction in pre-examination anxiety.
Disadvantages
- Increased likelihood of students getting "expert" help.
(Originally published in Trigwell, K. (1992). Information for UTS staff on Assessment. Sydney: UTS Working Party on Assessment).