Are Tests Important?

A common disagreement that people have when discussing education is the use of tests. Are they necessary? Do they really prove how much you know? These are two questions that are often asked.

Answers may vary depending on who you ask. Some feel it is necessary for students, while others feel the opposite. They feel it does nothing, but make students make an educated guess. It’s not showing what the students actually know.

Everytime this topic has been brought up, I’ve always heard similar things from each side. Tests don’t show what the students absorbed and fully comprehend but only what they remember. Which I agree with. Then it’s brought up that in that case, tests shouldn’t be multiple choice but all be an open response.

Sometime last week this topic was discussed between two seniors, to see what they thought. Both agreed in what tests do, but they did disagreed on some aspects. Some things they pointed out I’ve heard before, but other points really stood out. One of them said that tests are useless “[The education system] teaches how to take tests, not to think,” as it doesn’t let us think for ourselves but think about what’s a given. While the other student doesn’t think tests are fair, “Who’s to judge if I’ve learned something?” This is because of that fact that there are students who have learned something, but don’t do well under pressure.

So given some examples from both sides what do you think? Are tests important? Do tests really show what you know? What are your thoughts?