Yu Ling (2) and Cherri (3) 4C

​Exams in our education system are a cursing. Exams in our current education nowadays are also being used as a way to determine the quality of a school, their teachers and also judge whether a student is capable or not. Exams in our current education now are prospective. Teachers are rethinking whether they want to begin a career in which high test scores matter most, and in which they will be pressured to produce these scores. Writer Alfie Kohn wrote that norm-referenced tests were never intended to measure the quality of learning or teaching. The main objective of these tests is to rank, not to rate; to spread out the scores, not to gauge the quality of a given student or school. The presence of exams changes their mindset about the purpose of exams, which is actually to, according to writer Melissa Kelly, identify the strengths and weaknesses of students, and provide a basis for eligibility for higher levels of education. This forces them to think that exams are important assessments in which they must excel in. As a result, this induces stress on students, affecting their psychological health. Despite that, some people say that exams are a blessing. Through exams, students of a higher ability are able to stand out from the rest which allows them to receive opportunities beyond the norm. Tests nowadays are being used as a factor to determine students who will receive awards, better opportunities and recognition. For example, the PSAT is often given in the 10th grade to students across the nation. If a student is a National Merit Scholar due to the results on this test, they are offered scholarships and other forms of recognition. Also, for example, the SAT and ACT are two common tests that form part of a student's entrance application to colleges. Additionally, students might be required to take additional exams to get into special programs or be placed properly in classes.