What is the difference between the annual and semester exam system?

 What is an exam?

Eexams have rightly been deemed as a necessary evil as they brought fear, anxiety, and restlessness among the examinees. The term examination refers to the act of examining something closely with some particular objectives and for obvious reasons. It comprises a set of answers and question exercises in order to evaluate the skills, knowledge, competency, and performance of the examinee.

exam and study

ExaminationThe word exam admits various connotations; however, it has been largely associated with academic exams. Academic exams are intended and designed to evaluate and assess the performance of the learner and teacher as well.

Types of Exams

Generally speaking, exams are categorized into annual exam system and semester exam system as regards conducting of academic examinations. However, there are certain institutions that evaluate their student on a weekly or monthly basis: such kind of evaluation is known as progress tests. We are not supposed to term them as examinations.

Let us discuss each briefly.

Annual examination system

As the name suggests such types of exams are held on an annual basis. It is a traditional and old-fashioned system of learning assessment and evaluation. It is a more strict and rigid type of examination process. Under the annual system, students start preparation right from the commencement of their academic year; however, assessment of the students is carried out at the end of the session or year. Typically speaking the final exam is also known as the annual exam.

Semester examination system

Exam frequency in a semester system is six months or at the end of each semester. It allows a more flexible and productive format of evaluation or learning assessment. This pattern of exam systems is largely prevalent in private institutions. In the semester system, students are continuously assessed and evaluated. It opposes the old annual traditional exam system.

Comparative analysis of the Annual vs. Semester exam System

Exams are an integral part of the academic education and learning system. So far both exam systems are prevalent in educational institutes across the globe. Both have their own individual advantages and pitfalls. And as the expression goes, “there is always room for improvement”. Both require revamping and modifications in order to align and integrate with the contemporary assessment standards.

• Annual exams are conducted at the end of the session or year, whereas the semester exams are held after six months or at the end of each semester.
• Annual exams are conducted at the end of the session or year, Annual exams are reckoned as inflexible or onerous, while the semester system is considered flexible and convenient.
• The majority of the students think that the annual system encourages cramming owing to manifold volumes of academic curricula. Contrariwise, in the semester system, the syllabus has been divided into parts as a measure to extend facility and promote convenience in academic learning.
• Annual is considered less productive and inspiring as compared to the semester system. In former students have to wait for a year, therefore no learning curiosity, neither reward, while latter keeps the students proactive and engaged. Moreover, the semester exam system encourages motivation and reward after each semester.
• There are some traditional educationists who espoused the views that the semester exam system only provides superficial knowledge, whereas the annual system offers through knowledge and encourages critical or analytical abilities.
• The semester is termed as expensive as compared to the annual system. Indeed, it is as clear as daylight that the semester education system is far expensive as equated with annual.
• In annual format students generally have a lot of time to prepare and revise the curriculum, while the semester system lacks the reasonable time to cover and revise the entire curriculum.
• Contrary to the annual system, the semester system due to lack of time also fails to provide co-curricular activities to the learners. Principally, such activates are essential for moral, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
• Attendance has been healthier in the semester system as opposed to the traditional annual system.
• Due to the modern learning modalities and designs, students can develop and learn quickly as compared to the old-fashioned annual learning mode.
• There is less burden and assignment pressure in the annual system. On the other hand, the semester system has been subject to time restrictions and overwork or assignments galore due to a limited time span.

Advantages of the annual exam system

• The annual exam system provides sufficient time for revision and completion of the given syllabus for a particular session or program.
• Fewer no of projects and assignments as compared to the semester system.

 Disadvantages of the annual exam system

• The annual system encourages the cramming tendency among the students due to prolonged courses or syllabus.
• It does not ensure a better and healthy attendance rate at all.
• Being an old-fashioned and traditional learning system lacks modern learning or teaching designs and modalities.
• Even though it lacks curiosity and rewards for the students as compared to the semester system.
• It creates monotony and restricted learning patterns.
• Due to the high volume of the academic content, it makes students subject to fear of failure, anxiety and promotes cramming tendency.

Advantages of the semester exam system

• It provides an opportunity for incessant learning, assessment, and a sound system of feedback or report and returns.
• It also enhances a better understanding of the subject.
• The most remarkable feature of this system is its mechanism of evaluation twice a year.
• The academic syllabus is divided into two halves, therefore learners neither feel the burden of extensive or prolonged curricula nor do they feel monotony?
• Moreover, the semester system ensures a good and healthy trend of attendance.
• It offers a better opportunity for student and teacher engagement, hence it is can instill and develop students’ skills, knowledge, etc.

Disadvantages of the semester exam system

Despite so many advantages, this is system is not free from pitfalls. Let us have look at some of the cardinal drawbacks of this system.

• The semester system lacks adequate time to cover and revise the entire syllabus. It has been noted that most of the teachers fail to complete the syllabus in time. Students who join sessions late face even crucial challenges as regards time and syllabus management.
• This system does not provide room for co-curricular activities due to a lack of time. Co-curricular activities are essential for physical, social, moral, and cognitive development.
• The semester system even restricts extra classes owing to paucity of time.

Which system is best and why?

It is an acknowledged fact that nobody is perfect under Lord’s decree and no one claims perfection. As there is always room for improvement and up-gradation. The same is true about all the departments, organizations, and institutes. Both exam and learning system have got their individual merits and demerits as well.

Keeping in view the above-discussed pros and cons of each system it would be quite reasonable on our part to conclude our discussion. The semester learning and evaluation system surpasses the conventional annual system due to factors appended below.

• The semester system is an interactive learning system with a viable mechanism of assessment and feedback.
• The most noteworthy feature of this system is its mechanism of evaluation twice a year and division of curriculum or syllabus into two halves that meet the psychological needs of the learner and the teaching principle.

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