The Role of Examinations

In our system of education today, examinations are a common feature. Our present education system has often been criticized as too examination-oriented. However, one must remember that in offices and other areas of work, examinations still feature clearly. There is no doubt that the dread and influence of examinations cause much preparation work. So it therefore appears that examinations whether considered good or bad would stay for a while as a test of human knowledge.

Examinations are meant to test the intellect of a person, how much he knows or how much he has learnt from a particular course. It is designed to make students study, which should he their immediate mission in life. In our competitive world of today, examinations have a highly selecting of filtering role. In the university, students have to pass annual examinations before they are allowed to continue, or study a harder syllabus. The examination results would show whether the student is ready to embark on the next phase of his course. Moreover, for entrance into the university, pre-university examination results would provide a guide as to whether a student has the minimum qualifications necessary. This is because the number of seats in the university is limited and only deserving, hard-working students should be given a place.

In offices whether government or private ones, examination results show clearly whether a person is fit for promotion. The results indicate how much he knows about the work.

Short Answer Questions

1. Examinations function as ____.
2. Why is the present education system subject to criticism?
3. The phrase "filtering role" (Paragraph 2) means ____.
4. What is this passage mainly about?
5. "Only deserving, hard-working students should be given a place" (Paragraph 2) means ____.

(Keys.)