ABSTRACT
One aspect of teaching disliked by both students and teachers is examinations. Students, though, are not the only ones tested by exams. Through analyzing the results of tests, teachers can learn how they have succeeded and where they have failed. An additional value to examinations is the time spent preparing for them. First, some say that exams do not provide a sound basis for evaluating a student’s achievement. A second criticism is that exams inhibit students' independence, discouraging them from pursuing their own interests and instead forcing the study of materials chosen by the instructor. A final criticism of examinations is that they stifle creativity, emphasizing the mindless reiteration of facts instead of encouraging imaginative thinking. Hence testing, rather than stifling creativity, provides a framework in which it can flourish. In short, examinations are neither good nor bad, but they are one tool in the teacher’s kit.
