Beyond the Grades: Five Ways Exams Help you Grow

 

Exams! Who created exams? What was on their minds when they conceived that idea? 

Have these thoughts crossed your mind before? 

Like many other people, I used to be of the opinion that exams exist because my teachers have “trust issues ” and don't believe that we understand the subject. Or, that exams are just a way for the school to separate the smart kids from the others. 

Honestly, if the purpose and function of a thing is not known, then not receiving the full benefits of it is inevitable. 

Exams do a lot more for you than you realize. Here are five ways examinations contribute to your growth.

 1. Tick-tock, Master your Clock

From preparations to the “D-Day”, examinations teach you how important it is to effectively manage your time and organise tasks. 

Exam deadlines push you to prioritise, create a schedule and manage your time in order to meet up. These skills are as useful in the exam hall as in every other area of your life. 

 2. Keep it locked in

Studies show that the technique used in preparing for exams, called “spaced repetition” helps students to improve the rate at which information is retained in the brain. 

While studying for an examination, you strengthen your understanding of a topic, leading to retention in the long term. 

 3. Oops! Missed a spot

Examinations help you to identify your knowledge gaps or blind spots, which show areas that need improvement in a particular subject. 

Before the exams, practicing past questions or other questions help with this.

Reviewing your performance also helps you to see the skills you need to develop or areas in which you need better understanding. “Real growth is in closing up those gaps.”

 4. You NEED the work!

Every student in the world would agree that preparing for an examination is hard work and requires discipline. The beautiful thing about it is that, the fact that you learn to set goals and work hard towards them is in itself a great benefit. This is because traits like perseverance, discipline and hard work are essential to achieving success in every sphere. 

 5. The more to come

Frankly, the future has bigger challenges in store. From standardised tests to professional certifications to job interviews, there is more to come. 

Examinations empower you with the skills needed to perform well under pressure and be resilient, which is very necessary in achieving success in academics and beyond. 

To Wrap it up:

Exams are not a product if your teachers' trust issues. It is a system that was carefully set in place to ensure that you grow in essential life skills like time management, hard work, discipline and learning from mistakes. 

To maximise the benefits of exams, it is important to see it, not as a cutlass to bring you down, but as manure and water to help you grow.

By: Sadiq Miracle.