Long time not see around this blog and there is a perfectly logical explanation for that : I've been studying for a public exam to become an English teacher in the language schools in Madrid and that has taken all my time. In fact, the exam will take place in two days and, as usual, I'm really jumpy and nervous because a lot is at stake with one single exam. Besides, I am not the only one. High-school students have just sat 'Selectividad' exams, so perfect timing to prepare a post about exams in order to calm down and put the strain aside :
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Synonyms of exam
Exams
Examinations
Tests
Verbs that collocate with exams = examinations
- As a student, you can do an exam, take an exam (in America) or sit examinations. Yap ! You heard right. Apparently and surprising though it may sound, you can sit an exam.
- You can study for an exam. If you do it, you will probably pass the exam; if not, you will fail the exam. If you fail an exam, don't worry ! You can usually retake in September.
- Your teacher put in a lot of hours to make exams.
- Both teachers and students can prepare exams : the teacher will set up the questions whereas pupils will have to study to prepare them. In fact, that is what I've been doing during the last months.
- You can cheat in an exam (they do not use 'copy') if you read your notes while the teacher isn't looking.
- You can revise (or review) contents prior to an exam date and you can revise your exams after the marks have been published.
After the exams
After the exam, you will see your exam results with a mark, grade or qualifications. You can get high marks or low marks.
In the United Kingdom, they assess (evaluate) students with letters A (outstanding), B (very good), C (good), D (OK), E and F being below average =failure.
In America they use percentages up to 100 %. Your mark must be over 60 % !
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Types of exams
Diagnostic tests = exams to know the level of the prospective students.
Placement tests = exams to know the level of the students and place them in the appropriate class.
Final examinations = Exams with all the contents of the course, a really decisive exam.
Competition examinations = public examinations = Exam one (myself, for example) has to take to become a civil servant and work for the state.
Oral and written exams = I think this time you don't need an explanation, do you ?
Multiple choice exams = Exams where there are some options to choose from.
A-levels = in the United Kingdom, these exams are important to get a post at the university (very similar to 'Selectividad'). Some Degrees require students to get high marks in some specific A-level courses.
Second-chance examinations = The exam you retake after failing another one.
Now that you have revised a lot of lexis and collocations abut exams. What are your opinion of them ? Do you think exams should be ditched from schools ?
Advantages of exams
- They are objective tests to measure the students' proficiency in a given subject.
- They are a fair practical way to assess some students over others.
- They force students to revise the contents seen in the class.
Disadvantages of exams
- Exams represent a stressful situation for students
- They don't sometimes measure the students' capacity : only their ability to solve some questions. some students just focus on the way to pass the exam rather than in learning.
- They take time and they are not always fair. The exam results depend on other factors such as the typology of the questions, time organization...
Alternatives to exams
- Essays, papers, projects or other types of collaborative work can be appropriate alternative to exams. In fact, both in the UK and the US these tasks and assignments before a due date really count for the evaluation process. Students must hand in this work before a deadline (final date).
Do you think exams are responsible for the dropout rate (students who leave the school and studies) or the increase in students who skip lessons or play truant ? (the ones who do not go to a class because they prefer to be somewhere else). What's your opinion about exams ? Should we promote essays or oral exams over written examinations ? Post a comment with your answer !
P.S. If you want to know about education in the English-speaking countries click on the link.
See you around !