“The current trend in education is to move away from traditional exams and instead have continuous assessment over the school year. What do you think of this trend? “
Sample Answer:
I believe that the current trend in education, which emphasizes continuous assessment over traditional exams, has both positive and negative aspects. While this approach has the potential to provide a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of students’ progress, it also comes with its own set of challenges.
On the one hand, continuous assessment allows teachers to monitor students’ learning on an ongoing basis, rather than relying solely on the results of a single exam. This can provide a more holistic view of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as their overall understanding of the material. Additionally, it can help to reduce the pressure and anxiety that often accompanies high-stakes exams, as students are not solely judged on their performance on a single test.
However, there are also drawbacks to this approach. Continuous assessment requires a significant investment of time and resources on the part of teachers, who must regularly evaluate and provide feedback on students’ work. This can be particularly challenging in large classes or in schools with limited resources. Furthermore, there is a risk that continuous assessment may lead to grade inflation, as teachers may feel pressure to inflate grades in order to maintain students’ motivation and confidence.
In conclusion, while the trend towards continuous assessment in education has its merits, it also presents challenges that must be carefully considered. It is important to strike a balance between the benefits of ongoing evaluation and the potential drawbacks, in order to ensure that students receive a fair and accurate assessment of their learning.
