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Examinations: IPL T-20 or test match:

Are our examinations more like the IPL T-20 or are they like a test match?  For many, it seems, it is like the IPL, with high stakes. But should some examinations not be like a test match? Examinations are scary because of the consequences of success or failure in them, not because they pass judgement on the subject. The purpose of examinations ought to be to provide feedback for further improvement. Often,and more often than not, they are used as a filter to week out the ‘unworthy’.The stakes in an examination become high due to the consequences of this judgement, not just because judgement has been passed.  Take for example, a weekly school test that is used by teachers (and parents) to assess, say, whether a child has learnt to spellor add independently. The test is on a specific day of the week, and takesfifteen minutes. Now, this can either become the most stressful event for the child, or can become an opportunity for setting up an internal mechanism for feedback, depending on how the teacher manages it. The role of the teacher and school is to set up appropriate results and consequences so as to trigger learning. If the consequences are insignificant, then the testing exercise loses importance and is a wasted effort. Say, a teacher runs a spelling test,each week, and then everyone forgets about it - there is no feedback, there is no discussion, not even a mention of the test. It is forgotten. By week three,it is highly likely that children have checked out and stopped preparing forit. On the other hand, if the test is seen as make or break - doing well in thetest opens opportunities never heard of before, then you can bet that thestudents will do their very best to ace the test. The higher the stakes, the higherthe stress.  Testing is clearly a valuable tool forlearning.  Consider the case of cricket, and the allegations ofspot fixing and match fixing. It is no co-incidence that such scams haveincreased as the format has become shorter and the stakes for each ball higher.This cannot, of course be the sole reason for the dishonesty, but certainlymakes for higher stress, high energy play. In the (ancient?) old format of Testcricket, played in elegant white, there was enough time to explore the nuancesof the game. There was enough time for the batsman and the bowler to makemistakes and learn from them, to experiment with new ways of dealing with thesituation, as each ball presented itself to the batsman. A mistake rarely costanyone the entire match. Of course a wicket that fell at the wrong timeinvolving a game changing cricketer could change the complexion of the match,but then, that was a part of the game. It was entirely possible that an unknownshone in unexpected ways and the match changed again. They do say that anythingcan happen in cricket. In a sense, the result was less important than the joyof the game. Often, brilliant matches ended in a draw. The win or the loss wasimportant, but did not dominate the game. Well, except for the Ashes seriespossibly, which was set up so, but then, it indicated another era. The lowstakes in each challenge - the weekly spelling challenge, or a an over in testcricket was a blessing to those who wanted to focus on learning andcontent.  Sadly, this was not exciting enough - for what is agame but the winning of it? The format changed to one day cricket, then totwenty overs a side. Each time, the stakes rose. (No, not speaking of thebetting yet, legal or not). With raised stakes, each ball had to be handled toperfection, there was no room for mistakes, learning from mistakes, theexploration of possibilities, no room for discovery.  Not DURING the match.  Not DURING the examination.   Just like the T-20 format, examinations have raised he stakes on each move. Like the IPL, we now all play in global teams. The examination too is about delivery - of learning - in a focused manner. Eachquestion is a chance to hit the ball out of the park. Each question is a chance to change the game. Getting a fantastic score could put the player in a different orbit. A medical entrance examination or the      IIT-JEE pass could transform the lives of entire families. The stakes to that test are so high notonly because it provides access to excellence, not only because it providesaccess to livelihoods but also because there are few other options that can match a guarantee of livelhood. These stand out as make or break exams, orbit changing as it were.  Not just these two, the examination culture in India focuses on stressful, high stakes, competitive examinations. Things have not changed yet despite the inclusion of the CCE - Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation, which could reduce this pressure. If the purpose of examinations isto filter the best, then there is a reason for tests that push candidates totheir limits. But for examinations that are part of the learning exercise, evenif ‘final’ examinations, there is no reason for them be treated or designed ashigh stakes examinations. Let them play a few test matches first, before theyenter the high stakes games.  High stakes testing often tips candidates overinto wrong - if the examination is so important, then passing it becomes moreimportant than one’s sense of right or wrong. The ends supersede the means.Reduce the stakes, and see the exam-fixing reduce dramatically. Source:TIMES OF INDIA URL : www.examhook.com