In those days, there were only final exams. Teachers covered the syllabus within the timeframe of a year (equivalent to 10 months) and we sat for the exams to test our understanding + memory. hmmm..at the end of the year. Then, we had concert and prize-giving day at school. I really enjoyed being a child...the only talk about exams was the 100% final exam in October - hey, I was born in October, so this deserves some attention also:)
There were two types of perception among us then. First, studying was like a long distance event in sports. You would have to study consistently to maintain stamina, and grasp the subject matter as they come along. Nevertheless, there were also students who relaxed throughout the beginning of the year, and only studied intensively one or two months before the exam. Still, the results were more or less or even better than the first group of students who diligently studied throughout the year. Well - perhaps it's the strategy being employed - tuition classes, past year exam papers, etc!
Back then we had "Penilaian Darjah Lima" which is equivalent to UPSR now for Primary 6. Same thing prevailed. And what happened in Primary six without standardized exam? That was a year of fun and fortune...but children nowadays have to continue the battle till the last day of Primary six.. the same goes with SPM...in school, teachers had to remind us that Form Four is not a "honeymoon year" - start studying seriously, or you'd be left behind...
For undergraduates, the scenario is so different with regard to the nature of assessment and evaluation in the university setting. The final exam still comes around, but without the predominant 100%. Perhaps it's 40%, 50% or in some courses, 60%. The rest of the portion is distributed to the cumulative assessments. In other words, every effort students make in their attempt to fully grasp and understand the course throughout the semester counts. Now, students who wait till the end of semester to open their books and work on assignments will bear the consequences - some may stumble and fail.
Isn't this good, that we have such a system in place to reward diligence and constant pursuit of success? As a lecturer, I find it rewarding to be able to acknowledge my sudents' continuous effort for success. For more difficult subjects, trying out your understanding of the concepts and applications little by little via the tests can be a steady preparation for the final exam paper at the end of the semester.
But I can be wrong here in several ways. May be, students don't like to be tested every other week or month. Or, may be they are only ready to be tested at the end of the semester when the loop is complete, and when all doubts have been answered. Or - can it be the last-minute syndrome that undoubtedly brings about its own implications?
Nevertheless, let's return to our discussion topic - when we can have effective cumulative assessment in place to check students' continuous understanding as well as improvement, do we still require a final exam that kinda summarizes the whole semester's pursuit? Without it, will students have the tendency to forget or abandon the earlier topics? As much as this is the concern, do remember that the course as a whole is a triangulation of inter-related topics. If topic 1 supports topic 2, and topic 3 consolidates topic 1 and 2, how can students afford to forget the earlier topics - right?
Guess, this is a point to ponder.
There were two types of perception among us then. First, studying was like a long distance event in sports. You would have to study consistently to maintain stamina, and grasp the subject matter as they come along. Nevertheless, there were also students who relaxed throughout the beginning of the year, and only studied intensively one or two months before the exam. Still, the results were more or less or even better than the first group of students who diligently studied throughout the year. Well - perhaps it's the strategy being employed - tuition classes, past year exam papers, etc!
Back then we had "Penilaian Darjah Lima" which is equivalent to UPSR now for Primary 6. Same thing prevailed. And what happened in Primary six without standardized exam? That was a year of fun and fortune...but children nowadays have to continue the battle till the last day of Primary six.. the same goes with SPM...in school, teachers had to remind us that Form Four is not a "honeymoon year" - start studying seriously, or you'd be left behind...
For undergraduates, the scenario is so different with regard to the nature of assessment and evaluation in the university setting. The final exam still comes around, but without the predominant 100%. Perhaps it's 40%, 50% or in some courses, 60%. The rest of the portion is distributed to the cumulative assessments. In other words, every effort students make in their attempt to fully grasp and understand the course throughout the semester counts. Now, students who wait till the end of semester to open their books and work on assignments will bear the consequences - some may stumble and fail.
Isn't this good, that we have such a system in place to reward diligence and constant pursuit of success? As a lecturer, I find it rewarding to be able to acknowledge my sudents' continuous effort for success. For more difficult subjects, trying out your understanding of the concepts and applications little by little via the tests can be a steady preparation for the final exam paper at the end of the semester.
But I can be wrong here in several ways. May be, students don't like to be tested every other week or month. Or, may be they are only ready to be tested at the end of the semester when the loop is complete, and when all doubts have been answered. Or - can it be the last-minute syndrome that undoubtedly brings about its own implications?
Nevertheless, let's return to our discussion topic - when we can have effective cumulative assessment in place to check students' continuous understanding as well as improvement, do we still require a final exam that kinda summarizes the whole semester's pursuit? Without it, will students have the tendency to forget or abandon the earlier topics? As much as this is the concern, do remember that the course as a whole is a triangulation of inter-related topics. If topic 1 supports topic 2, and topic 3 consolidates topic 1 and 2, how can students afford to forget the earlier topics - right?
Guess, this is a point to ponder.
25 comments:
honestly, i do not like the finals! But then again, there is no doubt that we need them.
without finals, student take easy whatever their studin and most of the time would completely fail to understand their studies--> explaining the last minute studying part.... As students/undergraduates, we like to have fun, almost continuosly,so with final year exams, then there will be a fair grading on who's been studin and who hasn't. Continous asessment to some of us gives a chance for us to not do so well,like they say 'slack a bit', but once its finals, people take it seriously. Sometimes, during those asessment, we werent able to make it to class/lecture and we lose marks there, we can always cover it up through finals.
If you think about it a little, the true challege of a sudents life is the final exam, that is where the teachers/parents/the student themselves know how much they have achieved over that year. Its completely joyous!
Besides, if there are no finals, do you think those student would really study? What would happen to the country productive work number? Students that goes out of the university would work where without much knowledge of everything they've worked for?
For me, the exam or final exam are really important.There are no other ways to test our academic understanding except exams.When exam is near,everyone will study ( this done those who have enthusiasm on their self)
By the way, if we do or organize any exam,test or pop-quiz every weeks, students will find difficulties in this way. Because, they need to study every week and this can cause some pressure to those can't stand to study every time. So final exam suppose can handle this.
Even students need to study and revise a lot due to final exam, this much better than study a little for the exam that week and start to forgot what they study later.The final exam are very effective those to who have short-term memory such as me. Why I said like this? This because, for example lets compare if our school give us two choices; final exam or exam every weeks. If we take exam every week, sound like much easy but we might forgot what we learn after the we take the exam. Compare to final exam, it cover the whole topic we learn and students need to study all over again by their self. This sound like very hard but it much better because students need to study it every weeks due it will come out in final exam. So students will not forget what they learn as well it will remain in their mind for long times.
Sound like my idea is crazy right? It just what i think just now. Final exam are important.
herm.. I have read two comments condoning final exam... well, for me, I hate it and I am not into final exam...
I believe that the education system available in malaysia is somewhat more to exam oriented compare to research and field work study...
I mean, yeah, we do have assignments and lab and any others, but for most of the time, the weightage is rather small from the overall value...
In Uniten specifically speaking, for most of the subjects I've taken, final exam will carry for about 50% of the overall marks... thought that there are some papers tolled me for about 30% for its final, I still believe that the value is relatively high...
Final exams usually test us on our understanding, lil on the practicality... I mean, the theory is the main part of the paper... what if, we have more assignments which needs us to do research, field study, mingle around with the industry and to actually implements the theory that we have learn in a more real situation, whereby called, the industry...
not only that we will have the chance to actually materialized the theory, but we will also have the opportunity to enhance our skills on rationalizing, working in groups, communication and many others... and in the end, we will have the result of our studies via work field in physical manner, compare with the current exam's result slip...
in the end, it's not that I'm suggesting for final exam to be abolished, but, rather to cut down the percentage it carry... perhaps 15-25%?
There'a probably two main reason why final exams are important. Firsly it will ensure that the students will study continuously instead of slacking off every now and then and only studying when quizzes or tests are around the corners. I guess the final exams n the constant test or quizzes kinda go well together, the quizzes keep the students on their feet,and the finals make certain that they wont forget what they've learned.
Secondly, it will enable the hardworking students,that is to say, the ones who have been striving all year to get a great result, to show what they've really achieved.All in all, final exams are important, it keeps the students and also other parties, in check of what the students have been learning all year n summarize it.
Of course we need final exams.. But it depends to the students either they like or not. For me final exams is very important because it ensure whether students understand with what they have learn in class for 1 semester. In final exams include with all the things that students have learn in 1 semester compare to quiz, test or assignment where it include half of the syllibus. So, it will make students to study very hard in their final exams to get the best result.
One day my frenz ask me. Is'it important final exam? so i ask her, is'it important to eat everyday?so my frenz silent quietly n think wat i'm taking about. After a minute she said final exam is important. For me final exam very important because for a student like me final exam becomes 40% or 50% not like 100% when i'm primary school.Without final exam student take easy watever they studying. From the exam lecture can understand how muck their student understood.If a student want get the best result for the sem they must study hard on the final exam. So that's why final exam really important.
actually,i didn't like much final exam coz it need me to revise all over the sylibus..it give me a lot of pressure n at that time also i got problem in studying n for sure it will lead to another probs...i rather choose test or quiz each week or maybe after 2 or 3 sylibus,then test or quiz will be held..by this way, i can keep this knowledge in my mind..but i cant expect more than it as each one has their own opinion relating to this topic..
in my opinion, finals are important to every students. the reason for it is, it can make students know how far they have achieved throughout the year. it also will make sure students to study, because if there are no finals, will they actually study? well, i dont think i will. finally, finals can actually test students understandings on that subject whether they understand it or not. that's all :P
final exam?...hurmm..
actually,i also do not like it..
but..we must to do it...in my opinion,,final exam give many advantages to ourselves..it is because,we can know that we really2 understand about all that we have learns and studies in class..final exam actually helps ourselves to be more hardworking person to study hard to aciehive our target for our future n shows that we can be the excellent person in our life....can you imagine if there are no finals,that the students become more hardworking to study hard?..i dont think so..
in conclusion,final exam are important for ourselves to help us in our future.....:)
There is no doubt that the final exam is very important. Well i'm never taught that final exam has a great influence to our future. If we has a good result then the our future is bright but if we had bad result, what do you think will happen? I had a friend who is very talented at sport.When the final exam approach, he will struggle between his study and his training for the national level competition. His has problem when come to study, i,m not saying his not clever but he very slow and hard to catch what the teacher taught to him. Their school system is who has poor result will be expel from the school,so this will give him a disadvantage because he need to cover a lo of thing. Furthermore,he will try his best to prevent from fail some subject in the same time he also need to maintain his practice. In the end, he fail in the academic so his talent also wasted just like that. Now he just helping his mom to run the bussiness. So i,m not trying to say that Final exam is bad thing but as we all know everything we done in this life has pros and cons.
I hope you,ll will try your best to face the final exam.
Final exam?why should have a final exam?
I do not like it!but as everyone known that we should do a final exam because we want to move ourself.Without a final,we can not know that ourself really understand about what we are studied.right?
Can you all imagine what will be happen when do not have a final exam?
Please give me the answer because I can not imagine that.
Hi greedjaw. You have made a very interesting comment, something the nation needs to take heed to in order to shape a brighter futue. Yes - our local education system emphasizes and also relies on final exams as a yardstick for success. So, study hard and study smart - no lame excuse.
Nevertheless, in the recent years, many of us educators and parents have opened up another avenue for the younger generation who can't catch up well with the academic papers. Now, we can also opt to specialize in technical and vocational areas.
The only problem is regarding 'late bloomers'. I can only pray that they make up their minds quickly enough about their talent, skills and ability. The nation is on a rat race for success - in any way we define it, I believe. If we can't drop Final Exam from the system, we can at least choose the type of Final Exam we have to sit for - yeah.
All the best in all your final exams this semester, and all the semesters ahead. May final exams do you more justice in reflecting your intelligence, perseverence, and ability. Cheers:)
I agreed with zara. Student will take it as easy way if no final exam. With exam we will know that person is try to understand and studied every day when the final exam is around the corner. It is actually to know our effort in study. we just not go to the class to listen what teacher want to teach but also for us to mix around the people and can change any idea...it also help us to study smart when mix around with other people.. Time management is important when final exam is around the corner. We don’t have to study everything cause we are already make a good preparation before the final.. So we can just read through or do some revision to remember it.
When we studied after and before the class it is actually make us feel more better cause we had done already our revision as soon as possible. in this way if we entered the class and have some quizzes we can easily answer the question.
For those who are just come to the class for fun it is wrong.
They should make up their mind to study because study makes us perfect. With all the knowledge we have people will look up at us.
final exam?? huhu.. like the others, i also don't like it actually. but, i think we need it.. really need it.. why?? bcoz we can know how brilliant we are. if we just study without final exam, we don't know whether we score that particular subject or not.. 'test' also test our brain right?? but, final exam is more important. it conclude all of that subject right? yup.. so, this final exam is coming soon.. so, chaiyOk and gambate to all my beloved fwens, qem,pyka,nini,han,paan,nur n the others who sitting final exam..
Well when we talk about final exam,everyone will surely start to complain.Why?Well it surely because there a lot of thing to study and revise from the beginning of the semester.
Final exam is very important to us because it can help our brain to work.We all know that if there is no quiz or test,we will never study and do any revision.But when it come to final exam,everyone will start busy with their own study.
Our final exam also just around the corner and I hope I can score with flying colours.And to all my friends,I wish you all the best in the final exam.
we need the final exam because we want to test the level of knowledge of the subject that we taken.just be relax..n u will get the powerful of passion...
no need to tension,just read n study as u can..just believe yourself that u can do it... watever it is we have to take final exam..so..don't give up n just do it..
I think that we don't actually need traditional exams at all, i've made this point clear in my blog, thestudentengineer.blogspot.com
I've included a summary of my point below:
I believe that open book exams where, notes are allowed into the exam are better, as these test the students ability to research and reason rather than memorise and reguratate...
I don't think that a traditional exam tests the students understanding of a subject
The Student Engineer
For me final exam is very very important.This final year exam will let us know how good are we in a particular subject..if we ar weak,we can try to do something to make it perfect.just imagine there is no final exam, how we going to know how good are we in the particular subject??
Final exams make undergraduates alert for what they have studied. When there are final exams, students actually have to cover back their learning from the previous chapters in order to answer that freaky exams. If they have forgetten what they have learned, the final exams will urge them to study back. They can act as refreshener to the learners. Secondly, final exams also included in the requirement to obtain an outstanding grade point average(GPA). For the cutting-edge students, all exams will be treated by them as final exams to ensure that they got such results. Final exams usually cover a dominant percentage of a subject and undergraduates should not taken this tests lightly if they want to obtain a good GPA. So, study is the only way to get that happened. To concluded them all, final exams are needed to refreshened the new learners to the subjects that they have learned.
salam n hye...
for me,final exam is mostly important to all candidates or student.IT's because final exam can help us to improve our knowldege after study for a few month or year.
other than that,final exam also help us to decide conviction ourself.all answer in exam paper are depends on our preparation.it means we must do a lot of preparation before examination day!.for me,i prepare for exam a week before examination week...hehehe.
final exam is exactly help us in future.for example,when we get a good result for final exam,we can apply any job at anywhere we want.=)so,final exam is mostly important for us as student especially.
The disadvantage for final exam is, we waste paper for it.haha.why i said like tht??when i was a form 5 student,before SPM examination,i've got sms from my friends.its wrote ;save treee!!don't waste paper!!say no to SPM!!BTW,good luck for your SPM!..hahaha..it really2 jesting.i told it to my dad,but,no response from him.isk3..so,i just ignored it laaa...weee. then i asked my friend,why he send tht sms to me???then he said,juz wanna to wish me for exam and juz for fun because he ws tension for SPM..huhu..
BTW,the key point here is,final exam is really2 important for us.it give us more advantages and no disadvantage for us.=)
till then,wslm..
hi mam..me again ramesh...
1stly we reali need exam..this is bcz then oni v cn c our standard n be a educated person.....In final exams include with all the things that students have learn in 1 semester compare to quiz, test or assignment where it include half of the syllibus....final exam actually helps ourselves to be more hardworking person to study hard to aciehive our target for our future n shows that we can be the excellent person in our life....final exams are needed to refreshened the new learners to the subjects that they have learned...tats al frm me mam..thx...tc..n bye...
Hi mam zue!!
Final exam…hummmm…. For me, any exam or test are so important and have to be held. Studying without exam means nothing. Exam is one way to determine whether we understand about the topic or not. If school without exam, all student are same class either she or he is a clever student or not. Moreover, exam can improve student’s understanding about any topic. Exercises done while preparing exam also benefit us. Almost all hates exam. This is because for them, exam hard for them. Exams will reduce their time to play around because they have to spend their time to study and make exercise.so, for me, we need exam to improve our study.
Ezwani, 02b
Final exams was like a last piece of puzzle, if you lost it you can't complete the puzzle but if you can put it together then you will find yourself that you able to complete it. In other words, without final exams you won't know how far you can go.
Greetings Ma'am :)
As you know, we all will have to face the final exams. Everyone hates final exams including me. My final exams is just around the corner, i can already feels the stress!. At this time, people can be emotional.. for those who love to study at last minutes,you know the effects.. with lot of chapters and topic to cover. That's why we have to prepared from the very beginning.
Obviously, no final exams then you never identify which level you are.So, we all need final exams because it's very significant for all of us. Yes, i'm glad too that we have this system at Malaysia. Actually, its good to have final exams so it reminds us about topic that we have learned, its was like we recite it again and again, make our mind works. From that, we can enhance our memory and improve our study! We all know it's not an easy task because we have to repeat what we have learned over and over again.
Dislike test and quiz, we just have to read half of the books meanwhile when final exams, we have to read the whole books. However, with an excellent results can gives us a great satisfaction.So, take final exams as a challenge, grab it face it and win it! you'll get the rewards. Therefore, we all need final exams, indeed :)
Thanks Ma'am
Have a beautiful day :) .
Yes. We need final exams even many students don’t like it. Including me. Haha
For me, final exam is important because it shows us how far we understand and expert for the certain subjects. Without exams, student can take easily the content of the syllabus and they didn’t know how much they learn.
The final exams will make ourselves to study, remember what we learn about and make a revision. It will improve our memory that can store in our mind as long term memory.
Besides that, result of the exam will determine where are we in the ranking of the class.
Then it can train ourselves be more confident, hardworking and intelligent. Of course :)
Thank you.
Examination is a process to test the quality of student whether he/she knows what they are learning. Although many students hate exams, but truely, it is very important in our studies. It shows what we've understand when studying. In addition, final exams is check point in which students should revise all the topics that they had learned in class.
It is the climax of studies. Same as playing sports, eg : " If u played a particular sport, in other words, as your hobby, for sure , one day you'll join a tournament "
the tournament is your final exam. But if u cannot succeed, life must go on and what is most important, what exam you are facing, early preparation is important.
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