which is better for assessing students? coursework or exams?
342900
I would also say coursework. That way you can track writing ability and communication skills. Those are skills which will carry over into real life.
314885
Methods of assessment are the tools you use to determine a child's ability or progress.  Assessment tools can range from standardized tests to anecdotal notes.  The purpose of assessment is to drive instruction.  Once you find out where a child is, you have a better idea of what to teach and how to teach it.
329100
When I was preparing for the FE I was told that ME majors did slightly better on the general section in the afternoon than the ME section. I took the general section and passed. It is plug and chug, if you remember all that you were taught over several years, as well as a matter of plugging and chugging in the amount of time given. It gets hard when you are testing for such a long period of time.
395397
I presume you're talking about the exam boards that actually set the syllabus and mark the papers? It's so long ago since I took my A levels I can't even remember what the exam boards for mine were! To be honest, it wasn't a big deal either, so I wouldn't worry too much - just go with the one that your chosen college or training provider follows. It's not like choosing a Uni!!\n\nYou could also get hold of a syllabus for each one for the subject you want to study (your tutor will be able to provide these) and compare that way. Modular A levels tend to be taught in discrete units with module exams taken at intervals throughout the 2 years which all count towards your final mark. A standard A level syllabus usually has a series of final exams. Which you prefer depends entirely on your learning style and of course what is offered in your chosen place of study.\n\nH
853762
They may be new to you, but I remember seeing such exams when I was in college many years ago.  Such exams are very quick for the teacher to grade, since all the teacher need do is feed them to a special machine attached to the computer.  It is also assumed the machine grades more accurately than a human would, does not get tired, sick, lose track of things, or get bored.  And it makes a permanent record.\nOne big disadvantage is they don't make subtle answers easy.
497104
First thing you should do is find out what your professor is looking for when grading your exams. Second, you must do a lot of practice problems in the way that your professor has asked you to. If necessary, contact your professor and ask them what you should do to study. This will not only help you find out exactly how you should study, but should show your professor that you put a strong effort into the course.
1037025
As a teacher, I advocate many alternate methods:  Odyssey of the Mind, science fairs, music recitals.  I like anything which brings out the creativity of the students.  Dry, dull tests are often intimidating.  Many are slanted toward (against) certain ethnic and/or financial status background students, although standardized testing is becoming fairer and more universal.  One of the problems is budget.  School personnel who create and/or choose curriculum are restricted by money and time.  As education is one of the most important aspects of our lives, we need to change our ways of looking at education.\n\nI hope to pique students' interests in inventing, creating, producing.  I like essays over tests.  I am willing to accept book reports over tests.
248351
There should be more focus on individual progress than on test scores. Test scores are not the only way of seeing how much a student undertsands and how intelligent are they. I believe more challenging courses should be provided for increased mental stimulation because if students had more challenging work, it would force them to work harder in order to pass. Teachers should be payed more but there should also be higher standards in order to become a teacher because teachers have very important jobs. It is up to them to encourage and teach us so that we reach the peak of our potential. Parental involvement is necessary. It is up to parents to make sure their children understand the value of a good education.Too often parents do not stress the importance of education and no wonder their children don't perform to the best of their abilities. Curriculm revision would have to happen. Too often children are passed on to higher grade levels without learning the skills they need and so more time has to be dedicated towards reteaching skills that should've been learned. Finally, stricter standards in order to pass to the next grade level should be set up. I believe 70% should be the lowest percentage a person could receive in order to pass and if the pupil receives grades lower than C minus in math and Language Arts, he or she should have to go to summer school until improvements are made.
337981
The workload is similar, but it make or may not be effective for you it kind of depends on what way you learn best.  I have had classes both ways and found I learned more from the ones where I had to go to class.
898573
There are other ways of assessing understanding of some material other than essays, but it depends on the material.  An essay is a well understood method and has been around so long that it is considered rather dependable.  In some classes assignments can be more practical, but they would almost always involve writing.  Use of media, in class discussions, class presentations, peer reviews, journals, doing abstracts of articles, case studies, role plays, designing web pages, preparing study guides, etc. all lend themselves to different types of material.\n\nI hope these thoughts are of some help.  However, I think the essay is rather timeless and isn't going to go away.  :)
1017056
Positive Side:\n- If they were abolished we'd have more time to learn instead of being tested we could be learning new material\n- They are not an accurate representation of our knowledge, some people are just better at taking tests than others\n\nNegative Side:\n- Without exams there would be no way to gauge how much we learned and retained\n- Withour exams students would have less motivation to study because they know they wont be tested on it, therefore they would learn less.
87951
They are tests that you take about things you already know instead of taking classes. You get credit for it. But you can study up on the subjects you are taking tests on. If you don't know your subject, no amount of advice will help. If you do, you don't need advice. You can try to cram for them or read a book on taking tests. You can probably also retake them if necessary.
336096
Well, I would say assessment.\nI am doing one about whether students are more aware of assessment levels for reading and writing than speaking and listening (they are).\n\nOther people I know are doing whether written or verbal feedback is more effective in raising pupils marks.\n\nIts always useful to do something about disaffected boys and which type assessment works for them, peer marking, verbal or written.\nTry doing something simple like is it better to write a grade on a students work or not, because most students just read the mark and not the corrections or comments.\n\nThere are lots of useful books about action research, I got one off Amazon -Action Research in Classrooms and Schools by David Hustler.\n\nGood luck\n\n\nP.S contact me if you need to discuss futher.
642566
What is really important is learning.  Good grades are just a symbol that you learned well.  I mean yes they matter in getting into college, but mostly they matter to you because it means you really learned things.  Teachers use grades to motivate you to learn.  The whole educational system does.
956486
1.  It's quite common for professors not to return exams.  I've taken courses at 3 different schools, from community college to graduate school, and I've had professors do this at all 3 institutions.  It's also the policy for the courses I teach.  \n\n2.  As the other responses have mentioned, it's done largely because professors will either use the same exam, or similar exams, in different quarters.  Thus, if the exams are readily available, it inflates students' grades in subsequent semesters rather than giving an accurate measure of their progress in the course.  All the professors (and myself as a TA) who have done this do make the exams available for students who wish to see them by coming into their office and discussing the scores.\n\n3.  While storage space is nice, keeping the exams has the added benefit of protecting both the professor and the student.  If the student challenges their grade, the professor will have the exams handy to check for possible errors.  If the student has the test and loses it, then it simply becomes a matter of he-said, she-said thus creating much hassle for both.  As for boosting marks, that does nothing to increase the reputation of the university, and probably in fact would diminish that reputation.  Think about it:  if all the students get excellent grades because old exams are readily available for them to copy, that doesn't say much about the abilities of the students, except perhaps that they need to be spoon-fed in order to succeed.
431493
Only if you've taken calculus recently and did well.  Otherwise, if not recent, memory of details and subtleties fades; if not done well, a superficial review will not serve to teach what could only be understood with a lot of work -- homework.  Because calculus is a deeply profound and powerful part of mathematics, testers can approach a concept in many different ways, making each test strikingly different.
585282
What methods can I use to prepare for tests?\nOrganization is very important when you have a great deal of information to study. I recommend these methods: \n\nReview your old tests. Make corrections if you have not already done so to avoid repeating your mistakes. \nGo over your class notes. If you do not understand something you have written, or if you have "holes" in your notes, ask your teacher for help. \nTry to anticipate the kinds of questions your teacher will ask on the test. Make out some sample questions or even entire tests. \nReview the chapters in your textbook that the test will cover. Pay particular attention to boldface terms, chapter summaries, and questions in the text. Most important of all is the recommendation that you understand there is no easy way to prepare for this kind of major test. After all, the time you spend in preparing should pay off when you do well on the test. \nSet aside time each day to work on your subjects. Even if you are all caught up, spend the time to go over notes or your textbook. \nTell your teacher that you would like to talk about your progress in class, and ask for suggestions on how you can do better. \nGo to the library and check out books that are on the same topic you are studying in class. \nPay attention in class no matter what is going on around you. This will be hard, but if you can concentrate on what your teacher is saying you will learn the facts and skills that you will find later in tests. Keeping up with homework and participating in class are very important. \nAs for tests, here are a few suggestions to help you: \n\nTalk with your teachers about your concerns. They really want you to do well and are more than willing to help! \nWhat type of test is most difficult for you? Do you do better on essays than you do on multiple choice questions? Decide which type of test gives you the most problems. Then you can learn techniques for taking that kind of test. \nAre you studying effectively for your exams? Here are some ideas that will make a difference. \nMake sure you know what material will be covered on the exam. There is nothing worse than studying for hours only to find out you were doing the wrong chapters. Go over your notes. Do not wait until the last minute to study. Try to tie all your information into a big picture in your head. Visualize information. Get a good sleep the night before, and eat a nourishing breakfast. When you first sit down to a test, start answering something, anything, immediately. Once you start, you will be on a roll. Do not get discouraged!\n\n\nOR\n\n\nGo to a nice, clean, neat desk in your room. If you have paper junk and leftover pizza slices on your desk, studying will not be the biggest problem on your mind. \nMake sure that you have all these study supplies: a pencil, a notebook, books to study, and good old-fashioned silence. Unless you're completely positive you work better with music, turn off the stereo. Focusing is hard enough without Beyonce telling you "you make me lose my breath". \nGet out your pencil, notebook, and book to study. Brace yourself. \nOpen the notebook and book you are studying. \nRead the chapter or whatever you have to study in your book. Concentrate. \nWhile you are reading you want to make notes of the little things. Make it short enough so that you can study it. Make short little breaks now and then (think half an hour of studying= 5 minute break) unless you're cramming, and in that case, good luck to you. \nGet a friend, Mom, Dad or someone to test you on what you have just read and studied. A key here would be to make sure that the person has a fair amount of patience. \nDo this every night until the day of the test/quiz. Depending on what you're studying and how much time you have, give yourself assigned time slots. \n\n\n\nTips \nYou need peace and quiet for all the steps above (or at least, they greatly HELP). \nYour attitude greatly helps the outcome of your study