Are you curious about who invented school exams? Many people especially students are also curious about the origin of school tests. I have been a teacher for a long time to know that no students like tests. There is this anxiety that comes with writing school tests. Many students get frustrated by the idea that they have to write challenging exams after every academic period.
As the examination day gets closer, students will feel more pressure to succeed at the oncoming test. Before reaching the question paper, most of them are already thinking of why not write an exam. Who invented exams?
Notwithstanding, exams are the way to test our knowledge. Exams are necessary for schools and colleges to find out the real skills, talents and knowledge of the students. It is almost impossible to know if a student has acquired the necessary knowledge in a subject without a proper test.
Who Invented Exams And Why?
According to various internet sources, school exams was invented by an American businessman and philanthropist known as Henry Fischel somewhere in the late 19th century. He purposely invented examination to know whether what the students were taught was a mere waste of executive time.
It is also important to note the concept of ‘examination’ has its roots in ancient China. Almost 2000 years ago in China, being a government official was a matter of great prestige, and the only way to enter this elite club of government officials was to pass examinations that were designed under the watchful eyes of Emperor Zhang of Hen.