A desirable education system is considered essential in nurturing and developing the human potential through a holistic implementation of the curriculum. Exam-oriented approach entails an examination which is used to test the ability and knowledge of the student. Exams are considered as great ways through which students are assessed and what students have learned concerning the various subjects (Muthanna and Sang, 2015). The exam-oriented approach has paid much attention to training students with different expectations developed by examining the ability of the students through the exams. Through an exam for any subject that is taught at school, the teachers rely on this technique to customize the focus of the students. Relatively, they can validate the effort of the student in succeeding in the learning environment. The exams have been beneficial to the schools regarding assessing where the particular classes need more focus and resources. Despite the fact that exam oriented approach can bring about unending tension to the students, this approach plays an essential role in the education system and the whole learning process in China since it offers an equal opportunity as well as a fair environment for students from varying backgrounds, it compels students to learn and governs the education system in unbiased manner.
Learning is not about passing exams but is a holistic experience that imparts values, practical skills, attitudes, and knowledge. Ideally, the main aim of education is to offer the citizens who respect human rights put it that education is essential in making learners contribute positively to the development of society. The gateway of each education level has been guarded by examinations with high stakes being placed on passing exams (Davey, De Lian, and Higgins, 2007). Exams are substantial and are a significant function in the Chinese education system in the placement as well as the selection of several institutions in China. Ideally, the quality of education is examined through how it outperforms the quality of social life as well as jobs. In the history of Chinese education, exam-oriented has been the mode of education. This has treated passing exams as the goal since most individuals’ view exam-oriented goals as passing exams, better performance rather than the positive influence it has on teaching and learning within the schools.
Exam-oriented approach is essential in compelling the students to learn. This is because, without the exams, the students are tempted to read only what they are interested in. This means that they will have limited knowledge. They are likely only to learn the subjects that they are interested in and only ignore the subjects that are difficult despite the fact they are essential in the modern age. Exams are necessary for assessing the performance of the students. Ideally, exams are considered as essential in testing the student’s ability as well as how they are learning in the class (Guangtao, Li and Lina, 2013). Relatively, the exam-oriented approach is vital in assessing how successful teachers are conveying ideas and knowledge to the students. Through examinations, teachers can understand which students are better and those that are weak. Considerably, discovering the best approach that enables the students to excel in their studies builds an enabling environment where educators can focus on their needs to learn as well as allow them to understand the challenges that hinder them from realizing their potential.
The Chinese formal education system has paid attention to testing and passing exams. In China, schools start at 7:00 am with morning reading, which follows all through until evening with break intervals. Exams have been used in China to motivate students as well as improve their psychological and student’s success. Backwash has been used to examine the varied influence of testing on learning and teaching. Considerably, every test has different impacts on teaching and learning in schools. Examinations in China have held a significant role in the success of students. In China, students take several examinations soon after beginning their studies. The basic education in China lasts for twelve years, comprising of six years of primary education as well as three years of senior and secondary schooling. Exams have been used to grade the performance as well as the progress of the students (Hu and West, 2015). For instance, a student cannot proceed in the next level of education until they pass their exam. Considerably, the students will have more time to plan and study the topic as well as the strategies for the exam. Through this, they will be more responsible for their works. The ability of a student to pass their exams has been considered a valuable quality. This is because the exams show that the student can express their thoughts and ideas in a manner that one can understand.
The exam-oriented approach offers an equal opportunity as well as a fair environment for students from varying backgrounds. This approach has been essential in evaluating different education results in various areas. The examination system enables teachers to have an understanding of an individual’s ideas and knowledge about a specific subject (Guangtao, Li and Lina, 2013). For instance, a student has passed on a particular subject; the teacher can understand how much knowledge they have. A teacher can be encouraged to work harder in case they realize that the students have failed in a certain subject. They can improve their teaching skills and improve the performance of the student. When the students are doing the exams, they rely on knowledge. This means that they will have to study more to make sure that they score the best grades. The exam tests the skills of the student and enables them to range their skills and measure the knowledge of the students.
Exams are essential in assessing the weakness and strengths. Teachers clearly understand where there is a need for greater attention needed in class while teaching specific subjects. The exams offer an understanding of the weakness and ensure that the students can acquire the best of their abilities in class to help them in the future (Hong and Peng, 2008). Considerably, exams enable students to make efforts to understand and concentrate in class rather than sitting and taking down notes. The major task of the exam-oriented structure is to ensure that the learners are not passive recipients of knowledge since they not only listen to teachers and take notes without having to read. The exams ensure that the students get empowered to have control of their learning and have the required skills, attitude, and knowledge for an effective learning environment. Without testing the content that has been taught in school, it is difficult for the school to understand the effectiveness of the content. The exam-oriented education system has been active in involving the students in the learning experience.
The exams have been beneficial to the schools regarding assessing where the particular classes need more focus and resources. Ideally, schools need to ensure that they are offering students the best to achieve, and exams are considered a greater way of monitoring the effectiveness and progress of the class. The qualification system has reformed within China. In the new system within China, the teacher’s qualifications examined every year. Each certificate applicant is required to pass their exam. Separate examinations have been conducted for primary, pre-school, vocational education, and secondary, all of which consist of an interview and written examination. The written examination has been done partly on paper and computers. On the other hand, interviews include the situational simulation and a structured interview.
With the increased growth and improvement in the transition and retention rates, the demand for secondary education has been high. Concerning this, the Chinese government has used examinations as a way to control schooling and learning outcomes. For instance, the National Higher Entrance examination is the key to getting to the University (Davey, De Lian, and Higgins, 2007). Ideally, only the top students are allowed to enroll for the prestigious universities and enjoy opportunities limited to the low scoring students. Thus, the exams are a way of motivating the students to achieve their best. Most of the students want to enjoy the opportunities of prestigious universities. This will improve the student learning techniques and help the students meet a great success.
In modern communities, examinations and tests have been used to govern the education system in an unbiased as well as scientific manner. Tests have been considered one of the methods of evaluating teaching and learning efficiency. This is because tests have reinforced and created the identity and ensured standardization and uniformity. Examinations have played a significant role in the success of students. Students in China undertake several examinations once they start schooling. The government has also relied on the exam-oriented approach to indicate the learning outcomes, admission to schooling as well as a means of ensuring education quality. The government has tried to introduce the quality education system but has been associated with negative issues. One of the challenges is uncooperative students and the lack of creativity, which has challenged the quality-oriented education scheme (Zhao, Selman, and Haste, 2015). The exam-oriented education system has still been valued as the only practical way of controlling education within China. Chinese teachers believe that the education system has been sufficient for years and has offered effective results. It has cultivated around ensuring that the students can achieve the best, strive hard in their schools, and seek teaching aids from the teachers.
An exam oriented approach can bring about unending tension to the students. This is because all that matters in the exam approach is grades where low grades lead to isolation and low self-esteem while high grades bring about a student’s affection with the teachers. The exam-oriented approach has been faced with challenges since most of the students are viewing education as only passing exams (Kirkpatrick and Zang, 2011). This has brought about a negative impact of exam-oriented systems. Ideally, the exam-oriented approach has been linked to the limitation of creativity and imagination since the student is under pressure to pass exams. Exam oriented approach fails to address the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Exams have also been associated with psychological problems for the students. Exam stress has led to negative perception of education system since students are striving to pass their exams. This approach can affect a student’s creativity, imagination as well as sense of self which are crucial to the student in and out of school. Pressure to pass exams as well as emphasis on high stake testing can demotivate students and lower their success as well as psychological health. However, exams have played a significant role in the course of teaching, learning, and the entire educational institution. Exams are a great technique in assessing what the students have learned concerning the different topics. Ideally, the exams will indicate which specific subjects every student seems to take the greatest interest and can recall. With each student being different, exams have a significant way for educators to understand more about learners. Additionally, the test environment is linked with the added stress that enables the teachers to understand how the learners argue and understand as well as how they are thinking individually by their work which is essential in keeping in mind the future class actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Exam-oriented education system in China influences both learning and teaching in schools. Chinese teachers have relied on the exams to gauge the performance of the students in various exams and helping the students achieve their best. With regard to the paper, the exams hold a substantial role in the patterns of students’ education and teaching practice. The exams have been used to acquire a certain level of standardization and measure the abilities of students while they get to the next education level. Thus, examinations and assessments hold a substantial part in the development of students.
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Figure 2: A graphical representation of exam oriented approach. Source https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdevrant.com%2Frants%2F202454%2Fhows-your-educational-system-is-it-like-ours&psig=AOvVaw0q4XpRiL8eMt3nhQnnPIuH&ust=1583841614105000&source=ima
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Figure 1: A graphical representation of exam oriented approach. Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.lt.vt.edu%2Fdianafranco%2F2017%2F09%2F23%2Fbattle-of-the-grades-the-story-of-my-life%2F&psig=AOvVaw1N8DjGl3yrt4h_umpdeDZA&ust=1583843122077000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCODmkoayjegCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAG
