Ancient China in 605AD
under the Sui Dynasty was recorded the first ever standardised test referred to
as examination to selected candidates for various government jobs. This examination was used for selection
purposes for almost 1300 years before it was abolished in 1905 by the Qing
Dynasty. Since then, different countries and institutions have followed the
pattern in recruitment of workers and the determination of educational
achievement of students. This selection of candidates for was later applied to
education and it started to influence other parts of the world as it became a
prominent standard. For example, in 1806, England used the standardised examination
system for the selection of candidates in Her Majesty’s service.
under the Sui Dynasty was recorded the first ever standardised test referred to
as examination to selected candidates for various government jobs. This examination was used for selection
purposes for almost 1300 years before it was abolished in 1905 by the Qing
Dynasty. Since then, different countries and institutions have followed the
pattern in recruitment of workers and the determination of educational
achievement of students. This selection of candidates for was later applied to
education and it started to influence other parts of the world as it became a
prominent standard. For example, in 1806, England used the standardised examination
system for the selection of candidates in Her Majesty’s service.
During the two World
Wars – World War I and World War II the
standardised testing was used to determine the mental aptitude of recruits to
the military. The US Army used
the Stanford-Binet Intelligence
Scale to test the IQ of the soldiers. After the War, industry began using tests to
evaluate applicants for various jobs based on performance. This standardised
test referred to as examination undergoes a transition from the section of
civil services workers to other industries and later developed into a measure
to assess the performance level of students in different educational
institutions.
Wars – World War I and World War II the
standardised testing was used to determine the mental aptitude of recruits to
the military. The US Army used
the Stanford-Binet Intelligence
Scale to test the IQ of the soldiers. After the War, industry began using tests to
evaluate applicants for various jobs based on performance. This standardised
test referred to as examination undergoes a transition from the section of
civil services workers to other industries and later developed into a measure
to assess the performance level of students in different educational
institutions.
Influenced by the
ancient Chinese Imperial Examination, the Northcote-Trevelyan Report of 1854 made four principal recommendations: that
recruitment should be on the basis of merit determined through standardized
written examination, that candidates should have a solid general education to
enable inter-departmental transfers, that recruits should be graded into a
hierarchy and that promotion should be through achievement. As early as in
1806, the Honourable East India Company established a college near London to
train and examine administrators of the Company’s territories in India. Examinations for the Indian ‘civil service’- a
term coined by the Company – were introduced in 1829. In 1853 the Chancellor of the Exchequer William Gladstone,
commissioned Sir Stafford Northcote and Charles Trevelyan to look into the operation and organisation of the
Civil Service.
ancient Chinese Imperial Examination, the Northcote-Trevelyan Report of 1854 made four principal recommendations: that
recruitment should be on the basis of merit determined through standardized
written examination, that candidates should have a solid general education to
enable inter-departmental transfers, that recruits should be graded into a
hierarchy and that promotion should be through achievement. As early as in
1806, the Honourable East India Company established a college near London to
train and examine administrators of the Company’s territories in India. Examinations for the Indian ‘civil service’- a
term coined by the Company – were introduced in 1829. In 1853 the Chancellor of the Exchequer William Gladstone,
commissioned Sir Stafford Northcote and Charles Trevelyan to look into the operation and organisation of the
Civil Service.
As the profession
transitioned to the modern mass-education system, the style of examination
became fixed, with the stress on standardized papers to be sat by large numbers
of students. The mid 19th century saw the modern era of examination when
universities began to undertake written examinations to assess the aptitude of
the students.
transitioned to the modern mass-education system, the style of examination
became fixed, with the stress on standardized papers to be sat by large numbers
of students. The mid 19th century saw the modern era of examination when
universities began to undertake written examinations to assess the aptitude of
the students.
