By Vincent Van Ross

Those who thought that examinations or tests that are conducted in schools and colleges are meant to test the knowledge of the students may be in for a shock. That is not what they are designed to do!

When students take a test, they know in advance as to what subjects they would be tested on. They are handed a specific syllabus and the questions are picked up from within that syllabus. They also know as to when and where the tests would be conducted.

The students prepare themselves on each subject. They prepare themselves according to the syllabus of the subject. And, they take the test on a predetermined date at a predetermined time. How can such an examination test the knowledge of a student? At best, it can test the preparedness of the student with regard to a subject at a particular point of time.

Some of the students may answer all the questions in the question paper. Some of them may not be able to answer all the questions. It depends on how much of efforts the student has put in. It depends on how much the student has prepared himself or herself for the test.

Some students try to learn and understand everything they study. They try to answer the questions in their own words instead of mugging up the answers. They are the ones who really acquire some knowledge. They learn what they study. And, they retain most of what they learn. Some of what they learn add up to their knowledge and become permanent.

There are others who simply mug up or cram the answers to all the questions. They reproduce the answers to the questions from their memory without understanding what they are writing. Whatever they learn this way is tuned to a particular test. Once, the test is over, they may not retain what they learnt, for long. Whatever is learnt this way is transitory. It is temporary.

How can this test put the knowledge of a person to test? It can only test the preparation of the examinee taking the test.

Knowledge is spontaneous. Once you acquire some knowledge, it becomes permanent. When you have knowledge, you are prepared all the time. Anytime of the day and any time of the night.

If it is not permanent, it is not a perfect knowledge. Because, it cannot stand the test of time. Knowledge is something that can be tested anytime without any warning or notice. That is the test of true knowledge.

A sensible auditor would never tell you when he is going to start his audit. He will arrive all of a sudden. He will conduct a surprise check of your cash box and your books without warning.

If your auditor informs you in advance that he would come on such and such day at such and such time, you will make sure that the cash balance matches the book balance. But, it is supposed to match all the time. You have to make sure that it matches all the time. That is the test. Knowledge is like that. And, that is the only way it can be tested.