All Instead of One by Grace

All Instead of One by Grace - June 2015 Scholarship Essay

Throughout their many years of school, students are exposed to various forms of assessment, including essays, multiple choice tests, portfolios, and a few others. The question asked is which form of assessment is the most ideal, but the answer is that there is not one single form that is more ideal than the other. Instead, the ideal way to assess a student’s learning is a combination of all forms of assessment.

Every student is unique when it comes to his or her strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. Some students may excel at writing essays but struggle when it comes to tests, while others may do well on tests but have a difficult time writing essays. Multiple types of assessment allow students to discover and embrace their strengths and unique learning styles so that they can successfully show what they have learned. With this in mind, it is important to provide students with several different forms of assessment so that each individual will be able to do their best and has a fair and equal chance at showing their intelligence and knowledge.

Moreover, using a combination of forms of assessment instead of a single form allows students to utilize different skills that they have learned. For example, multiple choice tests usually involve the use of memory and problem solving skills, while essays typically require the use writing skills, research, creativity, and the student forming his or her own words instead of choosing from a list of answers. The use of more than one form of assessment lets students showcase a larger variety of skills and knowledge that they have learned, thus providing a more thorough evaluation of their success.

There is a popular quote that states “everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” This quote is saying that everyone has intelligence and knowledge, but they all have different ways of proving it. Having only one form of assessment only ensures a select few to succeed instead of every student having an equal opportunity at success. Everyone is unique, and no student has the exact same strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles as another student, therefore a student’s knowledge should be assessed using more than one method. Some students work well with tests while others work better with essays. It’s only fair to have more than one form of assessment to give students an equal chance at utilizing their strengths and succeeding in school.