考试的优缺点

　　You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

　　Some people think that examinations have some bad effects on both students and teachers. Some people say they do a good job in the evaluation of the students’ performance. What is your opinion?

　　You should write at least 250 words

　　You should use your own ideas of knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

　　From elementary schools to universities, students have to take many examinations. They even regard examinations as an indispensable part of their life. In most schools and colleges, examinations are used as a chief means of deciding whether a student succeeds or fails in a subject. However, although they do the job efficiently, their side effects are also enormous.

　　Examinations are unable to evaluate one’s true ability. They can only test memory or the skill of working rapidly under pressure. Sometimes the future of a candidate may be decided in a single examination. How can one do his best when he is under the extreme pressure? In other words, it does not mean that all of those who get high scores on examinations possess creativity in dealing with various problems. There are many stories that examinations failures turn out to be great scientists or successful entrepreneurs.

　　Another effect is that examinations encourage bad study habits. Students tend to lay emphasis on the content which will be tested. They are encouraged to memorize rather than to think. Moreover, examinations induce cramming during the exam week. However after the examination, most children forget nearly all the information and facts they stuff into their heads.

　　Examinations lower the standards of teaching as well. They deprive teachers of all freedom. Since teachers themselves are often judged by examination results, they have to train students in exam techniques instead of teaching their subjects. Furthermore, students are required to learn only what teachers tell them.

　　In conclusion, even though examinations have been used in the past, they should no longer be used as the only means of evaluation. They cannot assess a student’s performance in learning and they also have negative impacts on both students and teachers. (290 words)