From the Guardian (source):

All national exams should be abolished for children under 16 because the stress caused by over-testing is poisoning attitudes towards education, according to an influential teaching body.

I found this piece interesting because, when I recently went back to the university, I felt a great deal of anxiety and was happy when everything was over-- I even lost 70 lbs! Why? I don't know because I was an A/A- student as an undergraduate.

I know that testing can be helpful but, especially in college, it's used, seemingly, to filter out the "good students" from "the bad" students. i.e. I don't see tests as being used to diagnose and remedy personal learning issues.

Because I am starting to become fully commited to self-led study, I find myself taking "self created tests" a lot more often because I'm aware of what goals I want to achieve and I see and evaluate the type of progress I am making.

I can argue both sides of this issue because I can understand why we test (the community's stamp of approval) and why we don't (learning is non-linear).

Does anyone else think we can survive in a world without a testing bureaucracy?