Thousands of pupils across schools in Britain have one thing in common, especially when the end-of-term is just around the corner. They have topic tests based on what they have done throughout the term. These, in turn, get processed towards their grade-cards.

These end of topic tests comprise of different levels and subjects, but contributing to reports make each of them equally important.

Assessments, quizzes and exams all happen at some stage in each school, and they are either scattered around the term, or they are structured.

A specialist teacher at Hampton school, (Middlesex) was asked whether she would prefer her students to have either dispersed or designated assessments. Her comments were: ‘Although structured assessments would help curtail important habits, like meeting a deadline, it is equally important especially at a young age to not impose too much stress on the student. Therefore, tests should be scattered as each student will learn to revise every subject at the end of the term, whilst improving organisation in time management and most importantly be able to maintain a healthy, pressure-free mind.’

However, Ammar Haidermota from Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan, said that: ‘Although scattering exams would allow pupils to have their tests spread out, sometimes it backfires when the teacher only gives you a set amount of time to revise. If exams were structured in a uniformed way the entire class can prepare their revision for one specific week which would be incredibly more productive. Furthermore, structure allows practice for future exams such as GCSE’s and A-Levels.’

I believe that although structured assessments may allow pupils to prepare more comprehensively for exams, for the benefit of student welfare, scattered tests would be more favourable due to their stress-free nature. Additionally, scattered assessments allow students to organise and manage their revision time so that they can balance break time and study time more effectively during the school term.

By Rizwan Hatimi, Hampton School