Examinations

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30587, 2 November 1964, Page 12

Examinations

Sir, —Why does not someone review our examination system? As it is, a whole year’s endeavour stands or falls by the performance of a few hours in the examination room. Is this really a fair test of a student’s achievement? It is well known that many students are bad examination candidates. Also, the time limit often makes it impossible to do justice to a question. Yet, again, there are those who are feeling offcolour on the day of an examination. These factors may explain the frequent discrepancy between the year’s work and the examination paper. Would it not be better to spread the weight of examinations more evenly through the year, taking terms tests and essays into greater account? This would provide a more consistent level of work throughout the year, as well as being a fairer appraisal of the student’s merit—Yours, etc, STUDENT. October 28, 1964. [The Vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury (Dr. L. L. Pownall) said: “Clause (5) of section 4, examination procedure, of the regulations of the University of Canterbury. set out on page 45 of the University of Canterbury Calendar, 1964, states: — The examination answers shall be transmitted to the examiners who shall submit a signed report of the results of the examination to the registrar. The examiners may, before deciding upon this report, take into consideration the work done by the candidate during the year together with the candidate’s performance in any oral or practical examinations’”]