Some high school kids take tests seriously, but this doesn't mean that they can't have fun.

Test for the right reasons

Schools must decide what type of exam system is
most appropriate to identify the best students

There is a debate concerning the merits of midterm and final tests as part of continual assessment. I am of the opinion that both tests have a role in education, but it depends on the functions and goals being measured.

Some commentators argue that there is already too much testing. I tend to agree with them when there is a requirement to force midterm and final tests into a sixteen-week semester. Due to the abundance of holidays, many classes are postponed or cancelled. If a class is conducted on a Monday, there may only be twelve sessions of class per semester or even less.

Most testing for Prathom and Mattayom students is in accordance with government guidelines; though some schools have taken it upon themselves to conduct extra testing for special programs.

Pathumtep Witthayakarn High School, in Nong Khai, has asked Udon Thani Rajabhat University to test their English program students externally. For the last two years, these tests have given the school valuable data about students' progress and have provided outside assessments of their English program.

Setting a good example

My involvement during the testing process includes interviewing 85 students from Mattayom 1, 2 and 3. I always enjoy this, even though it takes all day, because all the students seem so full of life. They are excited at the prospect of verbally sparring with a foreigner in English.

All these students were polite and excited during test interviews. None of them seemed too shy or reserved, which suggests they are comfortable with their English skills and not just trained to indicate a box on a multiple choice test. Their ability and willingness to practice a foreign language can be partially attributed to teaching science and mathematics in English.

It came as no surprise that all of the students wanted to go to top universities in Thailand. None of the students wanted to attend Rajabhat universities. It is a shame, really. Rajabhat schools give local populations a chance at higher education, but students prefer to enroll elsewhere.

One may wonder if the Rajabhat system could benefit by learning more about testing procedures practiced at specialized programs. Effective testing can bring out desirable qualities and leadership skills in students.

Outstanding skills

Two students stood out from the crowd for different reasons. The first was a Mattayom 1 girl that elaborated at great length about her best teacher. He was a Prathom 5 instructor who didn't understand her in the beginning but later became her favorite.

She explained the importance of having at least one person understand you, even though it may not be important to be understood by everyone. Her father was given as an example. He works away from home, but he often brings her philosophy books when he returns. He knows that she likes to read about the subject, so he contributes to her growth as a learner.

This was all explained to me in English. I found it remarkable to be speaking to someone that was so analytical about her own life at such a tender age. Her concerns were put forward in such a way that it was rewarding to listen to her.

The second student was a Mattayom 2 girl, who had the opportunity at the end of the interview to ask me a question. She wondered, "How does my English compare to other Thai girls aged 14?" I thought that her concern and her ability to discuss it in English were unusually advanced for a girl her age.

The future looks good for students belonging to specialized programs as the one at Pathumtep Witthayakarn High School. We must strive towards excellence in education by observing schools that set good examples, and testing can be designed to effectively bring out the most positive characteristics of students.

Steve Graham is an English language teacher at the Language Center, Udon Thani Rajabhat University in northeast Thailand. If there are any comments or areas for debate that you would like to discuss, you can contact Steve at: shed_chelsea@hotmail.co.uk .