I think exams should be computerized.

Exams with essays in them should be computerized. I hate it when I’m timed to write essays. Why do we have to write essays? Nowadays, nobody writes out their homework so our writing speeds are on an all-time low. At least for me, I feel like I’m writing slower than I’ve ever written in elementary school. I can write fast but only if people don’t mind seeing a slur of lines that vaguely represent words. It’s disappointing that I have no other way but to draw such lines on my tests or exams, as long as it’s somewhat legible.

However if exams were computerized–as in computer exams– life would be so much easier! I type much faster than I could ever write! I don’t actually mind doing anything else like writing short answer questions but if I’m going to have to write a whole essay, I’ll need some time to prepare an outline. I don’t think the time they give us is enough especially because we’re such technology-reliant kids. And no, I also don’t think it is our fault we are slow in writing; I thought we were tested on our knowledge and application skills, not our writing speed. 

Think of it this way, I hate the feeling when I have so much I want to write but I’m racing against the clock to write it. If you told me to write a few hundred words in a minute, I would have great difficulty in completing that task. If you told me to write a few hundred words, like I am doing now, it is nothing. In any case, I thought they were testing on our knowledge, application, and communication skills–what is going on now? Are they going to add an extra category to mark by? Writing speed? Calligraphy? It’s ridiculous.

Aside from our own convenience, we are doing the environment a huge favour since we’re always throwing away our old computers and devices. Why not use these old computers to help students write essays? All they need to do is hook it up to the network and have students type out the essay on word. Whatever safety configurations could be done by any basic computer programmer you could pull out of the shelf. I could probably do something! Anyways, we’re also saving resources by reusing these computers. Say goodbye to paper, pen, pencils, lead, erasers, white-out, or other easily-used-up items! You save countless trees and other objects by simply writing an exam on the computer.

Editing the essay is also easy to do when you’re typing it up on the computer. Relating back to the resources, nobody needs to use their precious eraser/white-out and then write something over again. Why waste white-out or pen ink when you could backspace? 

I believe exams should be fully computerized but I also understand that teachers don’t have the time in this world to complete computerizing everything. I’ll be fine if they only redid the essay compoents of my exams! It’s highly unlikely but it’s good to dream. I hope I live the day when they decide to do this.