removal of time limits on exams (2 Viewers)

[DJP92]

What do you reckon? I think having a time limit on exams is counter-productive to the whole point of an exam - to show what you know. If you're rushing or you miss out on question, it really isn't an accurate exam.

 

[Phoenix Fury]

Couldnt agree more, however time must be limited due to the feasibility of life. English should go longer cos < 1% of the state could make a decent go at an essay in just 40 mins.

 

[Puttah]

Not sure. This is quite a touchy topic.
I do know however that when our class had a "time limitless" exam in chemistry (that was theoretically set at 2hrs), people still finished within 1.5-3hrs and it took so much stress off all our backs. When we got our results back, it was obviously a very good indication of who truly knew more etc.

 

[Puttah]

Not sure. This is quite a touchy topic.
I do know however that when our class had a "time limitless" exam in chemistry (that was theoretically set at 2hrs), people still finished within 1.5-3hrs and it took so much stress off all our backs. We were also given a copy of the marking guidelines, so basically, when we got our results back, it was obviously a very good indication of who truly knew more etc.

 

[hermand]

i think it's a good idea, but it doesn't work in reality. if you had limitless time to write an essay, think of how many pages you'd write and how long it would take them to mark it.

if they had, ie, word limit or something, that would be alright, but then it would really have to be done on a computer, for editing purposes i think.

 

[johony]

i think it's a good idea, but it doesn't work in reality. if you had limitless time to write an essay, think of how many pages you'd write and how long it would take them to mark it.

if they had, ie, word limit or something, that would be alright, but then it would really have to be done on a computer, for editing purposes i think.

or perhaps, a page limit with unlimited time. it's similar sounding to the current system in terms of limits, but with space instead of time. and there would be a minimum handwriting size rule.

radical.

 

[youngminii]

Absolutely ridiculous idea, especially for English.
Just keep on writing and writing and writing and writing.

For other subjects, I'd understand the appeal but still, exams are designed to test you on how well you can do the question (which includes speed and accuracy).

 

[Tofuu]

but i think the use of time limit is to distinguish the people who know their information right off to those who have to think harder to try search for the info

 

[mystiques4]

You don't have unlimited time in real life.

Although i must agree that English really needs a time extension, other subjects can be completed before the time is over but the humanities and English subjects are REALLY time oriented, everyone just rushes the hell out of the paper.

 

[johony]

introduce checkpoints in the english paper
if you don't get up to a certain point in the paper by a certain time then your exam is over, otherwise you can keep going until the end of the race

kekekeke

 

[Blaz-357]

Not sure. This is quite a touchy topic.
I do know however that when our class had a "time limitless" exam in chemistry (that was theoretically set at 2hrs), people still finished within 1.5-3hrs and it took so much stress off all our backs. When we got our results back, it was obviously a very good indication of who truly knew more etc.

LoL most ppl finished within 1.5 - 3hours...Pete! the chem tanks finished in like 5-6 hours ROFL!!

 

[ajdlinux]

An unlimited exam would be biased towards people with a better stamina. There'd be a few people who could sit there writing for six hours, in which time everyone else would get hungry, leave and be disadvantaged. It would also cause timetabling chaos.

 

[DJP92]

i forgot to mention that its unlimited time within reason. no supervisor should have to endure a 5 or 6 hour exam, but they should atleast adjust the time limit relative to the content required to pass it. not just make an exam with heaps of content in it, say 4 essays, then simply slap on a 2 hour time limit (based on units) and say begin.

 

[gsweeper]

If it is in reason, and there is a page limit, then i can't see why not. The idea is more practical and it brings out the full potential of some people. It also allows those that are slow writers etc. to show that they have the writing skill...

 

[Uncle]

The potential of incredibly slow people.
Absolutely pointless to remove a time limit on exams.
I was able to create on the spot extended responses in English just about within the time limit, however people resort to prepared essays and yet time is still an issue for them?
This is laughable.

 

[Scinery]

nah, nonsense.
a) Markers aren't paid to mark 1 essay for 3 hours.

b) The Board of Studies encourages responses of 800 words in answering questions. - you should be able to answer a set question sufficiently in 30 minutes.

c) i.e the extra 10 minutes is provided so you can give a well planned and structured response.

From next year, i believe hsc papers will include something like "your response should be around 800 words in length"; or "1 booklet"; or something as a guide. of course you can write more, but it means they will have to search through more work to find what they are looking for.

 

[TechnIx]

Hmm rather than an infinite time limit, I think it should just be extended. Imagine, having 4 hours to do Paper 2, allowed to leave at any time. Alot of stress would be taken off, yet it wouldn't kill the markers either. However, I like the current time limits in subjects like Chemistry/Maths/Physics.

 

[Baggygreen408]

An exam is supposed to test your knowledge, and ability to work under stress in time- quick recall of information... exams should remain, and i think, must remain timed... gives you parameters to work within... i don't think it limits your output, but aims to get your to give the most assurate and succint answer knowing a time limit is there

 

[Puttah]

LoL most ppl finished within 1.5 - 3hours...Pete! the chem tanks finished in like 5-6 hours ROFL!!

Tank? or overly obsessive? They were exceptions that just carried on ridiculously. No one needs that long to finish the exam. While the theoretical test conditions are 2 hours, to remove the stress of a time limit would mean no more than twice that time.

 

[JesseMatheson]

I think it could be a good idea if it was set correctly, I dont think anyone would write more than 2 booklets and I think if the time limit was removed then there should be a limit to 2 booklets. Atleast for module 2, I mean you get 2 hours and 30 minutes or however long it was to write about (and this was my advanced english class) 1. Bladerunner/Frankenstein 2. Julius Caesar + Related material 3. 2 Speeches so thats 6 texts that I need to know quotes from, scenes, techniques and everything and I need to be able to write a nice essay in 2 hours and 30 minutes for all of them. I finished but I was under mass amounts of stress and I know I could of done better but I didnt really have time to go other my essays and correct anything. Infact the time limit made me write a whole lot messier so the markers will have a harder time reading it. The HSC, and surely all exams, are no longer a test of skill or knowledge, but rather a test of memory. Any slack jaw can study their ass off for one exam and get a good mark but what about the truly talented people whose memory may not work the same?