Before you start preparing an exam Why are you giving an exam to your students?

While we often think of exams as a way to test students’ comprehension of material, exams can serve more than one purpose. Being aware of why we are testing students and what exactly we want to test can help make students’ and instructors' experience of exams more useful. The following tips will gear you towards issues you should think about during the entire exam process, from planning to reflection. 

Before you start preparing an exam

Why are you giving an exam to your students?

• 
  To evaluate and grade students. Exams provide a controlled environment for independent work and so are often used to verify students’ learning.
  
• 
  To motivate students to study. Students tend to open their books more often when an evaluation is coming up. Exams can be great motivators.
  
• 
  To add variety to student learning. Exams are a form of learning activity. They can enable students to see the material from a different perspective. They also provide feedback that students can then use to improve their understanding.
  
•