The exam was invented by Henry Fischel. He was the first person to invent the concept of exams as a means of evaluation of students about how much the student has understood through the teachings. He wanted to have a standardized method of assessing and evaluating the student's capabilities and aptitudes towards a particular subject while keeping away the bias of teachers. Before the modern conceptive examination, the imperial examination system was introduced in China to select candidates for government positions.

Who Invented Exams? - Origin of Exams, History

Q: Why are exams important?

Exams are very important to assess students. Understanding of subjects. It helps them evaluate and measure the knowledge, skills, and aptitude of a student in an objective manner. Exams help the students engage in critical thinking and problem-solving. This reflects the on things they have learned during their classes. It encourages them to be disciplined and focused towards their studies, thus enhancing their focus towards learning new principles. Exams help to evaluate progress, ensuring educational goals are being met. The pressure of exams teaches students to manage stress, prioritize tasks, and work under strict deadlines.

Q: How do I prepare for exams?

Preparing for exams requires a very strategic approach that is a blend of planning, practice, and well-being management. The students must start by creating a study schedule and dividing this syllabus into managed portions, allowing enough time for all articles to be studied in revised. The student must prioritize the topics that are more important in the examination and are usually asked frequently; after that, the students must identify their strengths and weaknesses by solving previous year's papers and sample papers and work. Additionally, students must ensure enough sleep, a healthy diet, and exercise to maintain concentration and reduce stress.

Q: How did exams evolve over time?

Exams were initially started as the imperial examination system, or keju to test the capability of candidates for civil service roles. Later, the idea of examination spread to the West, where oral assessments began in medieval universities. In the 18th century, exams evolved into written tests, leading to an educational revolution. In the 19th century, different types of exams, like multiple-choice questions, were introduced for effective grading methods. In recent times, technologies for transport exams with online assessments, computerized testing, and adaptive learning platforms have been developed. Although the mode and type of examinations might have evolved over time, their purpose remains constant in assessing the capabilities of the students.

Q: Which is the toughest exam?

The Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination, also known as the UPSC examination, is considered one of the toughest exams in India due to its intense competition and extensive syllabus. The exam consists of multiple stages, including a preliminary exam, a main exam, and an interview. It evaluates candidates on a wide range of subjects, such as history, geography, economics, current affairs, mathematics, and English. The extensive syllabus makes it challenging for candidates to prepare, and it is difficult to achieve a high score. The difficulty level of the exam is intentionally set high to select the most qualified candidates for government positions.

Who Invented Exams? - Origin of Exams, History

Yashika ,

Sep 05, 2024 | 02:16 PM IST

Share it on:

Exams were invented by Henry A. Fischel in 19th century to assess students based on their understanding of concepts and learning from classrooms without teacher's biasness.

Who Invented Exams? - Origin of Exams, History

Table of Contents

Inventor of Exams
Origin, History, and Invention of Exams
The Key Purpose Of Introducing Exams

No matter how much students fear the word examination, it is one of the most essential and crucial parts of the education system, not just in today’s time but for ages. Exams were introduced during the Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD) as the imperial examination system, or Keju.

This system was later refined under the Tang and Song dynasties. This was initially done to select the candidates for government positions based on their merits instead of giving seats and positions based on birth and wealth.

Inventor of Exams

Henry Fischel invented the exams. He wanted to create a universal method for measuring students, intellectual capabilities and understanding of the subject. Before the exams were introduced, teachers used to assess students based on oral assessments, class participation, or gauge performance, which was subjective and varied from one instructor to another. However, Henry wanted to bring structure and uniformity to the educational process.

The examination system allowed standardized testing, making it easier for teachers to compare students's performances across various educational platforms, schools, and regions. The exam held the students preparing to demonstrate their understanding of subjects under controlled conditions and an unlimited period.

Also Read: How to Prepare for Campus Placements?

Origin, History, and Invention of Exams

Origin of exams: Ancient China

The concept of the exam was first started in China as an imperial examination system, also known as Keju. It was introduced during the Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD) and became more prominent under the Tang (618–907 AD) and Song Dynasties (960–1279 AD).

The system was used to select the candidates for the government positions after assessing the knowledge using the met scores and providing them positions accordingly. This eliminated the concept of giving government positions based on family backgrounds and wealth. The exams covered topics like literature, philosophy, and administrative skills. The exam was said to be very difficult, requiring years of hard work. A very small percentage of candidates could pass the exam. The ones who were able to score well were provided with high-ranking government positions.

The Spread of Exams to the West

After China, the examination system was spread to the West, and the British adopted it in the 19th century. They used the examination system to select candidates for civil positions. This led to educational reforms in Europe. Later on, England also began using examinations to test students, knowledge and skills at that time.

The Evolution of Modern Exams

Since the 19th century, the exams have been on evolution. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, a professor named Henry A. Fischel popularized the idea of examinations in educational institutions in the United States. He is often referred to as the developer of standardized tests that are conducted in the classrooms. These tests are used to assess and evaluate the learning of students in specific subjects; however, the examinations have undergone significant changes since their origin. There are various types of multiple-choice questions, essay questions, practical exams, and other oral exams that are conducted in today’s time.

Also Read: Modern Eduation System

The Key Purpose Of Introducing Exams

Exams are an essential way to assess students' understanding of a particular concept and to identify which students have the best skills and potential in a specific field. The key purpose of examinations is to:

Create a uniform way of assessing a student's knowledge and skills.
To provide a fair and consistent method of evaluating students' performance and minimizing teacher bias.
To encourage students to take accountability for their studies and ensure participation and
To allow comparison of students based on their performance rankings for scholarships and other academic opportunities
To help students improve their weaknesses by identifying their areas of improvement.

Also Read: Low Fee Online Degree Programs in India

FAQs

Q: Why are exams important?

Q: How do I prepare for exams?

Q: Who invented exams?

Q: How did exams evolve over time?

Q: Which is the toughest exam?