Examinations Are Necessary Evil

Examinations are an age-old practice of evaluting student's performance.The history of exams can be traced back to period of Mahabharata when Guru Dronacharya had  held examinations for his students But the modern system of examination is the gift of the British rule in India. The examination sets the students heart pounding with the announcement of dates and course material.Normally examinations take place with the distribution of question paper by invigilators and students have to complete the questions in alloted time -frame.In all most all the courses and institutes in India, the selection of students take place through examination. The basic idea behind conducting examination is to test a student;s mental ability and knowledge.It is a way to make students work and to know the comparative merit of students and place them accordingly in their careers. Examinations encourage cramming instead application of knowledge.It is game of chance and skill.The standard of marking is not uniform and depends largely on the whims and fancies of the examiners.It is imperative to change the current format of examinations in India. A series of practical tests ,weekly tests and internal assessment will help the students. Counselling for examinations will also help students to take the examinations in a sporting spirit.The analysis shows that despite the evil nature of examinations we are bound to follow them.This is because of lack of any effective alternatives to them. However tests and evaluation system should be designed that they make a real test of a student's mental ability,orignality and faculty in critical thinking.