1. Examination is a tool for testing knowledge
There are many reasons why people “invent” examination, among them testing knowledge is the most important one. It is obvious that depending on the results of a student in exams, we can relatively know how much knowledge that the student has attained, as well as, whether he makes progress or not.

Have you ever wondered why students have to take final examinations each year? The only answer is to test if they have enough knowledge to live up to the basic knowledge or to take part in higher classes.

2. Examination is a chance for students to review what they have learned
Whenever exams come, students pay much more attention to study than usual because they want to get good marks or just pass a certain exam. Without exams, when time goes by students usually tend to forget what they have learned, so this is a good way to reinforce their knowledge.

3. Examination is motivation for students
Examinations create a competitive environment; the desire to get good marks makes students eager to study; as for many students, being the best one or getting the good marks in a particular subject or passing an important exam makes them more enthusiastic about their study. In addition, the fear of failing some course forces them study harder. They will spend more time preparing for their upcoming exams by paying much attention to every lesson, doing their homework, asking for help from their teachers and friends, etc…

Besides, every school also sets a standard for scholarships; therefore, for many students, doing well in exams means that they have more chances to get the scholarships. We can say that examinations are really good motivation for students.

4. Thanks to examination, students themselves can perfect their study; teachers can find suitable ways to help students.
Through the results in examinations, students can find their strengths, as well as, shortcomings (or weaknesses), which helps them realize not only what they are good at but also what they need to learn more. They will find methods which are suitable for themselves to improve their study and remain the good results, or at least focus much more on the subject they are not good. Teachers can realize their students’ ability, so they can find appropriate ways to develop students’ strengths or to improve their weaknesses.

5. Examination is a tool for evaluating each individual’s ability and personality
That is why people set level standards such as beginner, intermediate, high-intermediate, advanced, etc… to evaluate students’ ability. When looking at someone’s transcript, we can know which subject the person is good at or bad at. Teachers or parents can know the level of their students or children. Basing on an applicant’ studying results, a company can partly evaluate his or her ability. In order to know if the students can meet demands of curriculum, most universities set a certain score to choose their students. For example, doctor, who must be an expert in medicine and pharmacy, has to pass the medical universities’ entrance examination which is absolutely difficult.

Besides knowledge, behaviors in exams also show what kind of a student is. If he does not cheat in any exam, he is an honest person. If he himself does not try to do his paper and always asks others for help or copies others’ paper, he is an unreliable person. All in all, examination is the appropriate tool to evaluate someone’s ability and personality.

6. Examination helps enhance education quality
We cannot deny the importance of education quality in our society. By putting a standard for every subject students learn, examination helps recognize who meets the standard and who does not. The ones who pass can advance their study, the others must learn again to get enough knowledge. Therefore, the quality of education can be improved, which results in improving the workforce.

7. Examination develops some skills for students
Preparing for exams can help students develop some skills such as writing and reading skills, time management, critical thinking, etc… Before taking exams, students also have to learn how to arrange their thinking, how to use words appropriately and so on.

What would be to your mind an ideal education system?

A country is weak or powerful, which depends on its education system. Realizing the important role of education in life, Ho Chi Minh, in one of his speeches on education, said: “For the sake (vì lợi ích) of ten years’ benefits, plant trees; for the sake of one hundred years’ benefits, educate (v-giáo dục, dạy dỗ) people.”

An ideal education system must try to carry out (v-thực hiện) the following aims (mục tiêu, mục đích).

First, training human personality both mentally (adv-về tinh thần, trí ốc) and physically is important. It is said that a sound mind is in a healthy body. The morality (đạo đức) and the quality of a man must be the main concern of the Department of Education.

Second, schools must be connected closely with families and society. Schools must always encourage (v-khuyến khích) pupils’ families (vị thành niên) to cooperate in educating their children.

Third, the practical side of education must be emphasized (v-nhấn mạnh). An ideal education system must not be entirely theoretical; on the contrary, theory must be linked up with practice (v-thích ứng với). Besides the cultivation of knowledge for young generations, ideal education must train them to have great capacity and skills so that they are ready to make steady progress (adj-vững vàng) in life.

Fourth, society is more and more developed; therefore, textbooks and curriculums must be often supplemented in accordance with present and future needs.

Fifth, training and tempering a passionate love for one’s country in every citizen’s heart, ready to serve their country in peacetime and to fight courageously to protect their fatherland in wartime. The examples of sacrifice of our heroes in the past as well as in the present must be introduced through textbooks in elementary schools.

Sixth, training and forming educators, teachers and professors of good conduct and high quality, teaching and educating students and pupils to hold their teachers in the greatest veneration and respect. Furthering the traditions to respect teachers and esteem morality highly in every class of people.

To sum up, an ideal education is the nucleus of an ideal society.