Tests and examinations are the main ways to control students’ progress almost everywhere. They are one of the most convenient and efficient methods, as it is possible to combine a whole semester’s topics in one test. I believe that nowadays it is the best approach for both students and teachers for the following reasons.
First of all, for teachers it is a great way to check the overall progress of the whole class. In some schools and university groups there may be up to 40 students for a single class. In this situation it is almost impossible to give equal amounts of attention to each of them. Then, for example, a single test given monthly can show gaps in knowledge for everyone personally. At the same time, examinations are a fair and convenient way to estimate students’ progress during the semester or year, as it usually covers all of the passed topics.
Speaking of the benefits for the students, I believe that it positively affects the educational process. Preparing for the test or examination, they spend time recollecting knowledge they already had or filling the gaps in the topics they do not know well, which makes the process of learning much more efficient. Although it seems like the worst time of the year for students, it is still a necessity. If there were no examinations at all, there would be no control and, therefore, no motivation for actual studying.
To sum up, in my opinion, tests and examinations remain the best option for controlling the educational process. They help teachers to see knowledge gaps for each student individually and eventually give them a fair grade. Moreover, they keep students motivated and push them to constant recall of their knowledge.