In many schools and universities, students' achievement is assessed mainly by written examinations. However, many people believe that formal "pen and paper" exams are not the best way to assess students. In this essay, I will discuss this view and give my opinion.
On the one hand, there are some reasons why written exams are not the best method. Firstly, exams often test only memory. Students learn many facts by heart before the exam, but they forget them soon after. Exams do not show whether students can use their knowledge in real situations. Secondly, exams can make students very stressed. Some good students may get low marks because they feel nervous or are ill on the exam day. Thirdly, written exams cannot test some important skills, such as speaking, teamwork, creativity and practical skills.
On the other hand, written exams also have some advantages. They are fair, because all students answer the same questions in the same time and under the same conditions. It is also difficult for students to cheat in an exam room. In addition, exams are cheap and easy to organise for a large number of students.
In my opinion, written exams are useful, but they should not be the only way to assess students. Teachers should also use other methods, such as projects, presentations, coursework and practical tests. In this way, students can show different skills, and teachers can assess them more fairly.
In conclusion, although written exams are fair and easy to organise, I agree that they are not the best way to assess educational achievement, and they should be combined with other methods.