Students should take examinations to evaluate their own work and to know where they stand and how much they have understood whatever they have taught. Examinations reflect a student’s understanding, aptitude and intelligence. The teachers assess their students’ performances. The professor who gives the course is responsible for preparing the examination and grading it. Let us now know how does the examination system in American Universities work. In America, mostly there is nothing called as external examinations. The very same professor who teaches the student evaluates the examination performance. Usually a student has to appear in two major examinations- final and mid-term. As the name suggests, mid-term examinations are held half way through the course. The final examinations are given at the end of the course/semester. Both the examinations are usually written. The final examinations last from 2-3 hours while mid-term examinations last for an hour only. In addition to these fixed examinations, professors also sometimes take weekly quizzes.
The final grade is usually based on the instructor’s judgement, which takes into account not only the several examinations given, but also written papers, participation in oral discussions, field and laboratory work. The bachelor’s degree is ordinarily awarded on the successful completion of the various undergraduates course, without further general examinations required for B.A. Degree, the Master’s degree and customarily for the Ph.D. degree.
A student needs to work very hard to qualify brilliantly in the examinations. Daily reading of 75 to 100 pages is necessary if a student is willing to excel in the examinations. In some colleges, there are specified study periods in the evening. However, when a student is properly motivated, the compulsion to study comes from himself and not from without, that’s the general American ideal.
Namrata Mathur is a blogger who frequently writes on various topics. Find more of her tips on studying abroad.
