[skydaypat]

In university, at least during the introductory study period (the first 2 years) it is just sieving.
Decreasing the number of sudents that are allowed to get through to the main study period.

[f6HLLFcw]

In university, at least during the introductory study period (the first 2 years) it is just sieving.
Decreasing the number of sudents that are allowed to get through to the main study period. I don't really think that measures ability though. It makes more sense for universities to be harder to get into to ensure that students, once in, are more likely to stay in. That way it's cheaper for everyone and ultimately better for students as (one hopes) it would drive up standards of pre-uni education.

You don't have essay exams in the UK? Most of my university exams were either essays or math/computer-based exams. If, by essay exam, you mean a certain amount of time to write an essay under pressure, then that's what I've had in a triple dose today. Quintuple if you want to be pedantic. The fundamental problem is that it's not an environment conducive to producing your best work.

Some courses are graded partly on coursework and partly on exams. IMO it makes more sense for subjects, particularly the humanities, to be judged entirely on coursework.

And judging by your posts here I wouldn't say you excel when not under pressure either. ?

[Flirigor]

Ahhh pragmatism! That old frustrater of everyone who would seek to improve things

[mincbiori]

Rules of the game. You're being measured against others on a level playing field. Deal with it or move on.

Sorry to be unsympathetic, but lit students need all the reality checks they can get.

[erepsysoulptnw]

Exams exist because professors/etc don't have the time to get to know personally/etc the different students. At high levels exams stop being necessary.

JM

[singleGirl]

Wezil, I don't want your sympathy, I want your hot sweet man love!

[masterso]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Wezil, I don't want your sympathy, I want your hot sweet man love! Way too much information. This site has PMs for a reason.

[Pasy]

Sure am! When I was 18/19 I spent most of the time off my face on various substances so kinda messed up my grades. Got a bit sick of the rat race over the last few years so right now trying to get into uni (even quit work for a couple of months to nail revision). Not easy, but then won't get any easier as I get older so why not?

[payporanymn]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
IMO it makes more sense for subjects, particularly the humanities, to be judged entirely on coursework. Why should 'humanities' be excused the tough ride of exams compared to science-based subjects?

I know exams can be difficult and stressful - I went through hell with my A-levels, and that was over 20 years ago when I think you'll find they were harder than they are today, but life is about pressure and deadlines.

Jobs require things to be done in a certain time, and the interviews to get the jobs invariably require thinking on your feet under great pressure and with lots of competition.

[levitratestimon]

Why should 'humanities' be excused the tough ride of exams compared to science-based subjects? Because of the little pragmatism I afford myself - if you're to be tested on your ability to, say, derive something in Maths or describe a relationship in science, it's far easier to cheat if you have time to prepare coursework. I would argue that a scientist's experimental ability is different to their evaluative ability and imo these skills are equally evaluated by set investigations and examinations.

With humanities, I could quite happily look up an argument on Wikipedia but if I'm able to express that argument, then that's the very skill on which I'm being tested! It's far easier to tell plagiarism from your own work in fields such as Eng Lit.

Jobs require things to be done in a certain time, and the interviews to get the jobs invariably require thinking on your feet under great pressure and with lots of competition. In exam conditions? I don't think so. You get similar pressure and competition in coursework but you also get to exercise your ability to research and read around a given topic. I've worked in quite a few high pressure sales exec - type roles and in my experience these skills are more important than the ability to rattle of "something" vaguely coherent under extreme pressure. If you're in that situation then you need to look at your own time management skills.

[Caregrasy]

Good luck!

I seem to remember you and I being of like mind about university way back when.

I just finished mine last April.

Hope all goes well for you.

[gastabegree]

Ugh. It's 6 o' clock in the morning, and I just finished my paper on conceptual integration theory I have an upcoming exam of Economics in three days and I have yet to begin

Whaleboy: I am one 100% in agreement! Exams are stupid. If I find out I have an exam for a very dull and boring subject, chances are one 100% that I will skip all the lectures and just read the book, copy notes from someone else or learn the slides instead... After my exam I'll simply forget all about it. Hooray for procrastination and student life
Instead when I am forced to study a certain topic or something, it's imperative to read up on a few things apart from the basic info that is given in the lectures. This method also develops mental abilities a lot more than a mere exam, even if that involves creative thinking.

My ideal world would be: all lectures after noon, a concise introduction on every subject with the proper bibliographic references to more advanced and specialized topics, a few assignments on the standard material and finally some large papers or similar means of evaluation on a few personally preferred topics.

With regards to that last aspect, WTF do I want to know about or do with cognitive linguistics. It's pointless, boring, a hollow load of crap with an excessively complicated but obsolete jargon. let me do something useful and interesting to me!

[/end frustation]

[drugimpotence]

I am embarrassed to be a human after reading your post.

[jinnsamys]

So what is the lesser of the 2 evils?

[HedgeYourBets]

If you think taking exams is bad, try grading them.

No method of assessment by coursework or exams is perfect, because ambitious but stupid people will game the system. It's rather like an arms race.

In the humanities, the actual grading system doesn't mean that much. If you find yourself getting a lot of A+ grades over the course of your degree, then you are probably a good student.

If you find you're getting B+/A- grades or lower, then you're probably a hardworking dumb****. The good news is that our society has many more places for them.

The really smart people tend to spend more time on other things than on their coursework. The brightest guy I ever met was basically an autodidact. I would see him in the library at odd hours devouring books on all sorts of weird subjects. I remember he did a seminar presentation for a course I was a TA in and we were supposed to meet with the students to go over their stuff before they presented it. I just took one look at his and said "OK - it's great" and bought him a coffee because he wanted to talk about some other stuff. In the end he got a standing ovation from the other students for his presentation. I often wonder what happened to him.

[Aswdwdfg]

I always preferred exams to coursework. In coursework (to use the example above) it's harder to distinguish yourself from the hardworking dumbasses, and this has to be exacerbated by teh internet.

And any examination process should be able to separate wheat from chaff.

[Pateeffelty]

Not only do I think we need to keep exams I also think we need to make them harder, or soon half the entrants will get A grades. Sorry about that.

[Pataacculako]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
It's a pretty pisspoor way of doing that. I accept that coursework isn't ideal for the exceptional student but I suspect that's because when there are criteria that do not account for you reading around the subject, any fool can learn the syllabus. The exceptional student will read around and coursework represents a fabulous opportunity for the bright student to demonstrate that. We just need to get out of the "box-ticking" mentality for education pre university imo. The mission of universities has changed. They are now institutions of mass society geared in large part towards preparing people for work. Most students have a mild interest in the subjects they study, although a few develop a passion for them, but most want a degree so that they can get a better job.

Moreover, to be fair, most students don't have the time to devote themselves to their education. Many have 20 hour a week jobs that they need to do in order to make ends meet. How are these people supposed to find the time to write a senior thesis? Many of them are barely managing financially to stay in university.

[ppfpooghn]

Moreover, to be fair, most students don't have the time to devote themselves to their education. Many have 20 hour a week jobs that they need to do in order to make ends meet. How are these people supposed to find the time to write a senior thesis? Many of them are barely managing financially to stay in university. Insomnia helps with that to an extent

[Susanleech]

I think it would be more motivating for general everyday students if they are funding themselves rather than if the government is funding them. If you have to repay your debt you are less likely to spend that university time slacking off as you are only ripping yourself off.