1985 vs 2021 examination
It’s 09h00 and Yareny has taken her seat at the back of the class. She’s ready to write a 10 000 (ten thousand) word essay on understanding the Effects of Globalisation and Its Impact on International Relations.
“You have 90 minutes and your time starts now,” Mrs. Challer announces. Yareny opens up the booklet in front of her and writes the date in the right-hand corner, 3 November 1985. As she continues with writing the 10 000 (ten thousand) word essay, her hand starts to develop pain. Writing an essay with a black pen on paper, fast enough for the time given but careful enough so that the lecturer can read what she has written.
As the time continues, Yareny looks at the clock. There’s about 10 minutes before the time given, is finished. She has already read what she has written and now she takes up her pen to start counting the words. At the end of each paragraph, she writes the total words in that particular paragraph at the end of the last full stop. After doing this with all the paragraphs, she adds up all the amounts and she gets a total of 10 012 words. She’s relieved to see that the words add up to the given instructions.
“Your time is almost over …. and stop!” Mrs. Challer announces. Yareny closes the booklet, gets up from her table, and walks over to the lecturer. She hands Mrs. Challer the booklet. It’s done.
Fast forward to 2021, and Darrell is sitting in front of his laptop in his room. He’s currently studying Marketing — B.B.A. His examination is about to start. His laptop’s camera is switched on so that the observer can have his watchful eye on Darell during the examination. The software program that tracks copying and pasting on his computer, has been switched on and the piracy software as well. All is in place which will keep a watchful eye on him, while he’s writing his exam in order to make sure that he doesn’t cheat.
A clock starts to buzz on the screen, showing the time for the exam. It’s 3 hours and 50 minutes. After a few seconds, the countdown timer starts and when it reaches zero, it’s time for Darell to start writing.
The exam starts with a multiple-choice test of 100 questions. After that Darell needs to write a 10 000 word essay. As soon as Darell starts with the essay part in the exam, there are about 90 minutes left until his overall time is finished for this said exam. He opens up a Word document which will automatically count his words as he types.
He starts with the heading, then the introduction which flows over to a case study, and then his summary paragraph at the end of the essay. On typing the last word of the essay, Darell looks at the bottom of the Word document to see what the count of the words in total is. The count is 10 123 words in total. Darrell isn’t too worried that the number of words is over said instruction because he knows that this includes the headings within the essay as well.
He then saves the Word document to his computer and uploads it onto the university’s exam portal. He feels good about the exam and grateful that he’s able to write the exam in the comfort of his own home. No need to use petrol and much more cost-effective, which means a lot to a student who doesn’t have an income.
1985 vs 2021 examination. What a difference!
