Yes

Learning ability

Academic tests are conducted to test if students have been studying. They basically test the learning ability of a student, not his or her intelligence. Even famous physicist Albert Einstein failed his school tests.

Rishit Chanda,

Class IX, The Frank Anthony Public School, Calcutta

Tests memory

Intelligence is the potential to interpret, elucidate and think on a specific issue. Academic tests are an examination of the ideas and views put forth in textbooks and taught in classrooms, at occasional intervals during a term. These can be a true measure of memorising capability, but never of intelligence.

Mrittika Das,

First year, Presidency University, Calcutta

Careless mistakes

Answer sheets do not prove the intelligence a person has. Many students make spelling mistakes or careless mistakes due to nervousness or hurry. Students have trouble memorising long, complicated definitions. Writing a perfect description within the word limit and time is also a difficult task. Often, students know the correct answers but fail to write them according to the instructions given in the paper.

Dayita Chakraborty,

Class XII, National Institute of Open Schooling

Different capabilities

Every person is unique. Everyone is born with different capabilities and talents. There can be no standard measure to judge students. Using the same yardstick to judge everyone’s capability and intelligence is similar to failing a fish for being unable to climb a tree.

Angelina Banerjee,

Class XII, Sudhir Memorial Institute, Madhyamgram

Knowledge is power

True intelligence can only be measured with the amount of knowledge, not the marks of an academic test. A student who works hard can actually get fewer marks than a student who studies selectively if he or she gets common questions in the paper. In fact, marks can be earned easily by doing some last-minute study but intelligence, that’s special.

Suvojit Mitra,

First year, Vivekananda College, Madhyamgram

No

Test of intelligence

Academic tests require perseverance, hard work and ability to strategise. Correct strategy formulation does not emerge out of sheer good luck but a sharp brain. The idea that academic tests only check one’s ability to memorise and vomit it out on the paper does not hold true today when questions are out of the box, requiring students to improvise and formulate answers. This can surely not be done by the dumb.

Debaroti Adhikary,

Second year, Loreto College, Calcutta

Smart learning

Intelligence is the ability to learn something new. Practical intelligence refers to an ability to understand and accomplish everyday tasks. Analytical intelligence refers to an academic ability or problem solving. So, if you are intelligent you will definitely achieve success in academic test.

Trisha Sarkar,

Third year, KPC Medical College & Hospital, Calcutta

At their own pace

Intelligence is something a person is born with. It cannot be extracted from those who do not have it. Academic tests can be used to make a quick judgement of intelligence.

Arpita Dutta,

Second year, Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta

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