The first account of
written was in Ancient China in 605 AD during the Sui Dynasty when a nationwide
standardized test referred to as imperial examination was used to select
candidates for different government jobs. In line with the Ancient China model,
in 1806, England also used the written examination system in the selection of
candidates in Her Majesty’s Civil Service. Also in 1806, the Honourable East India Company established a college near London to
train and examine administrators of the Company’s territories in India.
written was in Ancient China in 605 AD during the Sui Dynasty when a nationwide
standardized test referred to as imperial examination was used to select
candidates for different government jobs. In line with the Ancient China model,
in 1806, England also used the written examination system in the selection of
candidates in Her Majesty’s Civil Service. Also 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.
This was on the basis 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.
Indian ‘civil service’- a term coined by the Company – were introduced in 1829.
This was on the basis 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.
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.
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.
