From around 165BC, during the Han dynasty, formal oral and written tests were used in China to select government officials and military personnel. Examinations were formalised into a complex and systematic selection process for entry into the imperial civil service.
This long history of examinations in Chinese societies has a strong residual impact on assessment practices in Hong Kong. The imperial examination system was a route for social mobility. Through exam success, test-takers could obtain a cherished position in government.
The modern variation is the annual battle to get a place in first a good kindergarten, then good primary and secondary schools, and a fine university. In such a system, the purpose of education is to fight your way up to the next rung of the educational ladder.
In my book, From Testing to Productive Student Learning, I analyse the impact of testing on Chinese societies and focus on how tests can be used to promote effective student learning.
Effective learning in the 21st century includes a number of attributes which are not easy to gauge through traditional pen and paper examinations: team work, creativity and lifelong learning.
So, what are some strengths and weaknesses of tests? Tests can push students to study; facilitate identification of their strengths and weaknesses; help to consolidate learning; and be motivating, especially for higher-achieving students.