In an age where children’s academic ability is constantly tested and scrutinised almost every year from the age of 11, and the number of nation-wide examinations is rising, we are faced with the question of internal examinations, and if they are truly worth putting students through.
Of course the obvious answer to this question in a simple yes. One could argue that these internal examinations provide parents, children and teachers with valuable information displaying where they are in relation to their classmates and therefore if they need to get extra help, or simply try harder. Moreover with so many external exams, it could be argued that by sitting more tests within school students are infinitely more prepared than those who have not experienced any form of formal examination at a secondary school level.
However it could also be argued that in some years, namely years 10 and above, the amount of coursework, ISAs and controlled assessments provide enough guidance to see at what level any particular student is working at. Indeed this is the view taken by one teacher, who argued that ‘I can accept the external exams, like coursework or controlled assessment as I understand that they go towards a final grade for the student, however by piling a load of extra exams onto their schedule simply so we can send a grade home is ridiculous’. She went further, even going so far as to say that ‘having to test the students both for external and internal exams is horrible, it leaves practically no time to actually teach my students what they need to know!’.
Ultimately, although the benefits are apparent, in an age where students are tested so regularly, will an increasing number of exams, both internal and external truly benefit them? Or will they merely crumble under the pressure?
