The Good of Tests, Part 1

I haven’t yet addressed the benefits of test-based learning. There are many, but they are often overshadowed by the system’s shortcomings or are attributed to other sources.

First of all, it encourages students to study. It provides the external motivation, which is similar to money in the context of a dull job. Most students, though, view this negatively; they do not want to learn or study, so the external pressure merely makes them anxious and distressed. However, a more open-minded, interested student can use this to his advantage. By preparing for a test, a student refreshes his memory about what he’s learned and ensures coverage of every concept and aspect of a particular topic. Without the external push, he may not have had the time or primary desire to review the topic. Even if he did, he may not have gotten a thorough understanding from simply self-studying.

Studying yields many interesting benefits, aside from high marks on report cards. Through focus and care, studying can open students’ minds and expose them to sources of potential interest. The practice of studying efficiently can also be improved, and in doing so, many other work and productivity-related benefits are obtained.

Here is an example: after I first took the SAT, I realized that I would need to work a lot on the Critical Reading section, as I scored rather poorly on it. At the time — two years ago — I viewed the purpose of studying for this section very singularly: it would help me improve my score, which in turn would improve my chances of getting into a better college. As my date with the SAT has been crawling closer and I’ve been studying more, I’ve realized that this view is incomplete. After practicing and analyzing my practice test results, I’ve gotten better at reading critically and thinking with more focus and clarity. These skills are essential for getting the reading-passage questions correct, but they’re also generally useful abilities.

More to come later…