Class Activity 3: Writing a personal commentary

Topic: Scrap the CCTs

Have you ever thought about it? Does it mean that by getting a high GPA of 4.0, one is actually proficient in that subject, and one who get a GPA of 2.8 or such, is poor in the subject? Many students burn the midnight oil and study hard for their Class Tests and then after the Test, they compare results. In my opinion, I feel that the Common Class Test is not a reflective of the ability and knowledge of a student and it should be scrap.

Firstly, most students do well in the PSLE is not that they are really intelligent in those subjects, but it is just as a representation of how well they structure their answers and how they use the correct key phrases. The pupils are taught the same things and technically they should be on pile with each other. In the real world, does it really matter if you use the correct key phrase or answer the question differently though your idea is great? Would a CEO fire you because your presentation was not used or presented in a correct “key-phrased” answer? The answer is no. So long as you get the gist or the idea properly, you should be awarded the mark, but this is not what is done in examinations.

Secondly, an examination is held so as to test what a student learnt throughout a course or module. Students sometimes burn the midnight oil just before the day of the examination and memorize the “perfect” answer. It is proven that these kind of students although does well in examinations scoring all A’s, it does not mean that when they enter society, they will be successful. The students do not really understand the concept behind it and does not find the link between it and the real world. They are just purely memorizing how to do it rather than how to use it.

Thirdly, students sometimes during an examination get a mental block, causing them to forget what they have learnt or studied for a temporary amount of time due to stress. For example, an intelligent student who has studied for a test but due to stress and exam conditions, gets a mental block, and could not remember what he has learnt. What he answers would be the same as someone who has not studied for a test and it is extremely unfair for him. In my opinion, an ideal test condition is when the candidate is under no stress. However, if there is a test, there would surely be stress.

Well, no matter how insignificant a Common Class Test is, given the nature of Singaporeans, even I for a fact would indeed try to score well. Although it is not reflective what the student have learnt, would you rather be exam smart and get 6 A’s rather than none.