Why are we assessing this way?

1) Assessments need to be fair - that's why you sit in a hall with no options to telecommunications and resources. 

BUT 

It means that a large part of this will assess one's ability to memorise. (Formats for question types, facts for evidence or examples, ideas that address certain question key words, spelling etc.) This prioritises algorithmic thinking and rote memory. 

2) Assessments need standardised answers so that it is easy to grade - That's why the question types don't allow for too much variation of answers so that grading the paper does not take too long and isn't as subjective. 

BUT

It means that there are standard ways in which a student is allowed to interpret and answer a question. This encourages algorithmic thinking and assesses a student's ability to remember an arbitrary question format that requires a certain KIND of answer (that requires a student to remember HOW to answer the question). 

3) Assessments have always been done this way - Why change something that's not broken? 

BUT

Assessments "done this way" were done "this way" because it was assessing a skillset that was necessary for a context that may not actually be the context that exists in today's society. Memorisation and the ability to follow instruction were skills that were required for a society that needed workers for an industrial economy. Is this still our context today?