Open vs Closed Book Examination
Open book and Closed book examination are two types of examinations that show difference between them when it comes to their meaning, concept, and application. Open book examination is about writing an examination by keeping the textbook and notebook open. In other words, you can write the examination in a particular subject by referring to the textbook and the concerned workbook or notebook. On the other hand, closed book examination is exactly the opposite of the open book examination. You are not allowed to refer to the textbook or the concerned workbook or the notebook of a particular subject. Instead, you should write the examination keeping in mind what you have studied. This is the basic difference between open book examination and closed book examination.
What is Open Book Examination?
Open book examination is an exam where you are allowed to use your textbook and notebooks to answer questions. Memory and ability to organize things play a very important role in the open book examination. This is because of the fact that you should remember every page of the textbook as to the extent which page of the text book has answer to which question. Hence, memory holds the key as far as the open book examination is concerned. Also, you need to keep your notes organized and keep short notes.
Open book examination is not very easy as many may think. In fact, at times it is more difficult than even the closed book examination. Open book examination is highly beneficial for such of those who find memorizing paragraphs difficult. It is meant especially for those who have a sharp memory. Some students think that the open book exam is easier as they get to look at your notes and textbook. However, they forget that even for an open book examination there is a specific time. If you are not familiar with your books, in other words, if you do not read your notes after you take them down, you will be in trouble in an open book exam as you will be too busy trying to find the answers.
Since open book exams allow the students to use their books, the teachers have to produce extra careful questions. They cannot just ask the basic principles and concepts as they are already given in the books. Open book examination primarily evaluates the understanding of a particular subject and the ability to apply that knowledge in different situations. Teachers too have to be more creative and put more efforts into exams.
Open book examinations let students use their textbooks and notebooks
What is Closed Book Examination?
Closed book examination is when you have to face exams without your books. This is the classic form of exams. You should memorize everything that was taught, the theories, concepts, formulas, etc., very well in order to write the closed book examination well. This shows that your ability to byheart passages is very important in the closed book examination. He or she cannot consult the book to check the answer so he or she should have the correct understanding too.
Closed books exams can be tough as not everyone is good at memorizing things. However, referring your notes daily will make you better at memorizing. Also, teachers do not find much difficulty in preparing closed book examinations as they can ask about theories or anything else as the student has to answer by himself.
What is the difference between Open and Closed Book Examination?
• Definitions of Open and Closed Book Examination:
• Open book examination is about writing an examination by keeping the textbook and notebook open.
• Closed book examination is writing an examination by keeping in mind all that you have studied without consulting the textbook or notebooks.
• Concept:
• Open book examination is there to improve students’ ability to process the information learnt. It tests how they can apply it to new context, how they improve it, etc.
• Closed book examination is there to test how much of the information content the student has been able to store in his or her mind.
• Evaluation:
• Open book examination tests the skills of critical thinking and problem solving of a student.
• Closed book examination tests the amount of information stored in a student’s brain.
• Preparation:
• To prepare for an open book examination, one has to clearly understand the concepts and practice applying those to various situations. You have to make sure your notes are organized and very neat. Having short notes is a very useful.
• To prepare for a closed book examination, one has to memorize the concepts and understand them too.
• Ability to memorize:
• Open book examination expects you to have an idea where each answer for questions may be.
• Closed book examination requires you to memorize all that you have learned well.
• Teacher’s Role:
• In an open book examination, to give a challenge to the student the teacher has to work hard.
• In a closed book examination, the teacher does not have to work as hard as in an open book examination.
• Advantages:
• Both open and closed book examinations are beneficial to the memory of a child.
• Open book exam makes the student apply what is learned appropriately.
• Closed book exam makes the student recall the content of lessons.
• Disadvantages:
• Open book examinations put more work on the path of teachers as well as the students as paraphrasing what is learnt is not enough.
• Closed book examinations make most students just memorize all that is learnt without properly understanding them.
Images Courtesy:
- College books by wohnai (CC BY 2.0)
- Writing exams by ccarlstead (CC BY 2.0)