Well, my year was the second year where continuous assessment was necessary for the final HSC mark. All work done over the two final years of school was assessed continously and then tested in the HSC (not like now where you have Prelim year and that is largely put aside and new HSC work is covered and tested - or builds on the Prelim).
I argued (at the time) that it would certainly spread the stress over two entire years and I was right. Even universities have bought into the assessment thing.
Tests certainly do have their weaknesses (let's just look at the OC and Selective Schools exams as a case in point and the NAPLAN) because they depend on one day's performance and one small subset of information being tested. Sometimes it can be luck as to whether you reviewed or covered that more recently. So, really it is only a crude snapshot of one day's performance.
Compared with 20 years ago, though, it seems that schools have taken assessments to a whoole new level of ridiculousness and stress. Dates must be published, doctor's certificates must be given if you miss, they get you to sign notifications and so on. It's all very stress inducing. And then if you do miss it, they use other stuff to give a fair indication of how you would have gone.
But then again, assessments allow those who don't test well (and, let's face it, not every does and especially a lot of gifted people who seem not to make it into OC and Selective Schools as a result) to show that they can perform and sometimes outperform the Outcomes.
I think it comes down to just treating tests/exams/assessments as just another logical part of learning and doing continuous study and learning at a steady pace and not stressing or freaking out if you do badly. Don't focus on the result, enjoy the ride.
I argued (at the time) that it would certainly spread the stress over two entire years and I was right. Even universities have bought into the assessment thing.
Tests certainly do have their weaknesses (let's just look at the OC and Selective Schools exams as a case in point and the NAPLAN) because they depend on one day's performance and one small subset of information being tested. Sometimes it can be luck as to whether you reviewed or covered that more recently. So, really it is only a crude snapshot of one day's performance.
Compared with 20 years ago, though, it seems that schools have taken assessments to a whoole new level of ridiculousness and stress. Dates must be published, doctor's certificates must be given if you miss, they get you to sign notifications and so on. It's all very stress inducing. And then if you do miss it, they use other stuff to give a fair indication of how you would have gone.
But then again, assessments allow those who don't test well (and, let's face it, not every does and especially a lot of gifted people who seem not to make it into OC and Selective Schools as a result) to show that they can perform and sometimes outperform the Outcomes.
I think it comes down to just treating tests/exams/assessments as just another logical part of learning and doing continuous study and learning at a steady pace and not stressing or freaking out if you do badly. Don't focus on the result, enjoy the ride.
