The History of Exams in the UK: Origins, Inventors & Evolution

Exams are a formal assessment commonly used in an academic environment to measure students ‘ grasp of a particular subject. Exams enhance the knowledge, skills, and aptitude of the person who is taking the tests. 

Exams are significantly important in present-day education. You must have wondered at least once in your lifetime who created exams. This idea of exams and testing is not modern. In fact, testing began in ancient China. Long before modern classes existed, testing and exams were used to determine skill, knowledge, and suitability for various roles, particularly in religious and administrative contexts.

In this blog, you will read about exams and their history.

What is an Examination? 

Examination is a test taken by the student, which is conducted by educational centres. It also helps to examine how well students have learned to check their understanding of a specific subject. Its main objective is to enhance skills like knowledge base, critical thinking, and exam techniques.

Examinations can be in various forms, which include:

• written tests
• oral questions
• practical demonstrations
• open-book tests
• online tests

That’s why it is important who created the exams in the first place. 

Importance of Exams — In a student’s life 

Exams play an important role in measuring a student’s understanding, discernment, and skills. They estimate a student’s advancement and identify areas that need improvement. Testing helps a student develop essential skills such as time management and critical thinking.

Confidence

Students’ confidence increases, and they try harder to get even better grades when they perform well. They also get to have a better understanding and skills in a particular subject. Therefore, exams are not just a formal test; they are a confidence-building tool for students.  

Learning By Examination

Exams help students see what they are good at and what mistakes they are making. They also help students learn from their mistakes, which improves their performance. 

Moreover, exams allow them to improve their performance, particularly in a certain subject and learn time management. They also motivate them as they have the pressure of scoring well.

Who Invented Exams?

Let’s find out who invented exams in the next section. 

The First Exams — Ancient China 

The first known exams were make known to in Ancient China all through the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). These exams were a part of the Imperial Examination System. At that time, exams were used to select people who were suitable for government jobs. Before these exams, jobs were given to relatives or family, and exams helped reduce this favouritism.

These exams were not easy at all, as candidates had to face intense competition. Some exams lasted days, and people studied for many years, often starting from a young age. Only the best students passed. The reason for conducting these exams was to pick skilful and hardworking people, not just rich or powerful ones. Also, exams were written without any names so that no one could cheat or be favoured. Only a few candidates passed each time.

So, if you ask, who invented exams? The answer is that Ancient China written exams.

Also read this blog:  250+ English Speech Topics for Students

Evaluation of Exams in Europe 

Now let’s dive into how examination systems spread and changed in Europe. Well, Europe did not invent exams, but it sure did play a big role in shaping the modern school exam systems we use today.

In the early years, European schools used oral exams, where students would speak their answers.

But as schools grew in the 18th and 19th centuries, it became harder to test many students through speaking. That’s when written exams replaced oral exams. 

If you’re wondering who made exams, it wasn’t just one person, it developed slowly over time.

Did Henry Feschil Invent Exams?

Most people think that Henry Feschil was the person who invented exams, but this is likely not true. It’s just an online myth.

This confusion was led by two people with the same name, “Henry Feschil.” One was a professor and the other was an American businessman. Neither of them invented nor made exams. 

The truth is, exams were started way before in ancient China, and later established in Europe. 

How Exams Have Changed Over Time — Modern Exams Today

After Europe and China, the testing system kept changing. Earlier exams were just about oral answers or writing essays. But gradually over time, different exam types and styles were created. 

These days we have:

• Written Exams

In this type of exam, students write lengthy and brief answers on a piece of paper.

• MCQs

In multiple-choice questions (MCQs), students have several answer options to choose from. They are comparatively easier than other types of exams. These also make grade allocation easier.

• Online exams 

With the help of this advanced technology, many students now take exams online. Students take exams in various forms, like typing, MCQs, and even oral, through video call or voice recording.

Due to technology, how we take our exams has changed; now, many candidates use computers or tablets. They can even take tests from home.

This presents how exams were created to match the world’s changing needs. They have also changed according to learning and technology.

How do students feel about taking exams?

Some students look at exams as a horrible nightmare and some as a wonderland. Many students feel stressed, while some believe exams are like games, write what you remember, and move on.

Students feel stressed during exams when they can’t recall answers. So, if teachers can make learning fun and easy, the students won’t feel stressed anymore. Exams are a significant part of the education system worldwide, so students must learn what they are being taught. To make this easier, teachers and educational centres should choose to make learning simpler.

Tips to Prepare for Exams Effectively

Preparing for exams can feel stressful, but it becomes easier and even fun with the correct methods. Here are simple and effective tips that help score well in exams.

• Make a study plan 
• Understand the topics, don’t just memorise them 
• Practice as much as you can 
• Take breaks
• Sleep well 
• Believe in yourself 
• Stay positive

Exams can be tough, but being positive and staying calm helps. Moreover, Advanced technologies like AI, virtual classes, and e-learning can surely change how exams are created, and they can also make taking exams easier. 

Conclusion 

Exams have been around from ancient China to modern schools and universities. They have been used to check the knowledge and skills of candidates for over a thousand years. 

As education continues to improve, the way we take exams may change, but the idea will still be the same.

Well, we may not know who invented exams, but we do know why exams were created: to test knowledge in a fair way.