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Should we have exams?

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SCMP Reporter

Resa Ng Su-ching, 14 Chinese International School

Yes. Exams help us learn and digest information more easily. Because students are under pressure to get good grades, they strive to do their best. They work hard, making sure they are well-prepared. Without exams, students would be able to put off their revision and find it hard to keep up in class. Also, exams are a good way to test students' knowledge. Therefore, exams should not be abolished.

Emily Tsang Long-yu, 15 Creative Secondary School

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Yes, but exams should not be a major part of the final grades. I suggest we use projects and tests to assess students instead of relying on major exams. Exams do not usually allow students to perform to the best of their abilities. Exams should take place at the beginning of the school year and at the end of each term. In September, exams can help teachers gauge their students' standards and create better lesson plans. With end-of-term exams, teachers can evaluate students' progress.

Charles Watson, 18 Hong Kong International Schol

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Yes. Exams test what a student has learned in class. Exam grades help me evaluate my performance and motivate me to work harder in school. But I believe schools put too much emphasis on exams to assign grades. Also, the stress students deal with around exam time increases every year as exams become more competitive. If I could make the decision, I would keep exams but abolish the idea that exams should be a major component of your grades. Class work can help assess a student's aptitude more accurately.

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