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Re: [Phys-l] What's the point of teaching to the test when it'sgraded inaccurately?



OK, seems people still want to 'rag' on tests and testing organizations. So, should we just abolish all testing?

Colleges/Universities: Let's just go the way of a few state schools: You want in--you're in. After all, we can't trust grades in the age of grade inflation and meaningless 'extra credit' and we don't personally know the people writing recommendations, so we have zero believable criteria.

Med Schools, Graduate Schools: Same thing, forget MCATs, LSATs, GREs. Perhaps the grades and recommendations are a bit more believable (or not), but just let them all in and weed them out the first semester (not sure how though--no tests remember!)

Our own courses. If tests are 'bad' things, there is no guarantee that we can do any better than ETS (etc.) I'm sure John Clement will tell us that most of our tests don't really assess what we think they do (so says PER). So...lets stop testing. Since homework can be copied, found on the internet, or otherwise produced by 'cheating' we can't use that. What's left--some work done right in front of us I guess--oh, isn't that what happens in an 'Inquiry' class (more or less)? ;-)

Rick