External exams are commonly observed in the commonwealth countries, especially at the point of graduation or when the students are in transition from their studies that is from moving on towards college from school or university from college. The examination board is responsible for the grading of the students and marks their competitive selection according to the intellect of the student. The teachers, students, and tutors even the coaching institutions are taking high interest in the process and their outcomes.
Strength of External Exams
The examination board prepares the examination paper under the supervision of a subject specialist and the board takes the responsibility to secure the examination paper until the students have sat the exam in the same conditions and at the same time.
Having noted that all students are attempting the same examination it makes it easier for the authorities to directly compare the results. Students are marked by trained markers irrespective of the teachers by whom the students have been taught making it zero favoritism for the students. Commonly the exam authorities are in the frequent audit of their quality checks along with high confidence in public.
Weakness of External Exams
Traditional methodologies are followed during the external examinations making it limited to checking the capability of the student and restricting the canvas to which the student needs to be evaluated. Additionally, there are several parts of the student assessment left lacking the proper grooming of the candidate and limiting the perspective of the examination.
Surprise questions and assignments are locked during the central examination making less use of human cognitive thinking and reducing the mental ability to work in diverse environments.
Another major issue that arises is the attention to detail in the course restricting the students from memorizing the contents of the book and limiting the candidate’s intellect level. Furthermore, it adds the extra cost of the tutors and coaching making it more expensive for the parents as well as students to bear.
Thus the external exams may result in the accomplishment of the outcome that may be because of the last-minute coaching or lucky breaks reducing the complete testing of the students. In some cases, the test anxiety and tiredness may also result in the abnormal result of the student.