ABSTRACT
Examinations have always figured prominently in education systems in most countries but criticisms of exams and tests are legend. Cynicism abounds about the value of tests, such as the following remark made to the Cockcroft Committee (1982) — ‘no one has ever grown taller as a result of being measured’ (p. 123). Yet, testing has a long history. In China they have been in use as early as the Han dynasty (202BC–190AD). At that period formal examinations were introduced to select persons for key posts in the Imperial household.
