Need for Open Book System in Examination

Introduction

The current system of examination depends on the memory power of the candidate. It does not matter whether the candidate has properly imbibed the concept or not. Since the questions are designed to test the memory power, the answers to them are simple. Knowing this, the candidates have started devising newer methods to quickly bypass the convention of just copying everything to the memory. They have started using the bits of papers to write the answers to these questions and take the written papers to the examination centre by hiding them in their body.

Malpractices on the Rise

Due to this conventional system, the children writing the examination receive the help from even outsiders. In the recent past, there was news about parents helping their wards with complete answers written on papers in Bihar, India. The parents, agents, friends climb the building and reach their wards on the higher floors to pass the paper containing answers. Due to the threat, the invigilators have started responding to these malpractices in many parts of North India, especially in Bihar and Chattisgarh. With growing involvement of the general public in these malpractices, the local administration cannot do much to stop this malice. This is the reason why people in charge of bringing education reforms have been advocating the need to remove the conventional system of administering the examinations in all educational institutions in the country.

Open Book Model

The issues relating to the already existing examination system can be solved to the large extent by bringing this open book system. Here, the students are allowed to take textbooks, guides, and other relevant book materials into the examination hall and write the exams using them. However, the approach of the examiner to various topics covered in the curriculum would be different.  The questions would be framed in such a manner that the students are forced to think and apply the principles and methods that they have learned to arrive at the answers. This would dissuade the children to resort to the malpractices at the examination venues.

Benefits of Open Book System

The major benefit is that the children would not be able to copy in the examination. The application-level questions would force them to think and write the solutions. Since the resolution of the problem posed to them by the examiner can be done in multiple ways, each answer would be entirely unique in nature. There is no template that can be followed to write the examination. Above all, the students would have to apply their minds and skills to arrive at the solutions. Hence, this would promote their true learning.