Finals!!! =)

Finals for academic year of 2012/2013 Winter session in University of British Columbia has begun. Good luck to everyone, hope all the efforts you put throughout the term pays off with these final papers. :)

My opinion about finals have changed from first term to now. In my first term I was scared and stressed out most of the time for the exams. Now, testing one's knowledge through time-pressure is something common. How valuable is that testing?

This is what one of my professor said when I complained that there isn't enough time to finish the midterm: "In whole what university (as an undergraduate) teaches you is not only the knowledge in your expertise, it also teaches how to use that knowledge in a time-pressured environment such as an exam. This is because, in real life you don't have all the time in the world. You will work in an environment, where time plays an important factor no matter what you choose. Therefore, it is important to learn the skill as soon as possible."

I like how he justified the time-constraint during midterm. Doesn't that mean that the instructors are technically testing our time management skills rather than the knowledge learnt? I don't think so. They are testing how students apply their knowledge effectively when there is time constraint. The determined and passionate students in that field seem to perform better than the students, who are taking that subject merely for requirement.

For some reasons, I always feel that getting good grades doesn't guarantee that you are smart. In my opinion, getting high marks just saying that you know the material learnt in class well, but doesn't say about your general knowledge or knowledge beyond classroom. So where does the "real" smartness lies then? Knowing everything in this world or mastering a subset of knowledge learned within four walls? Something to ponder about.

Good Luck peeps! :)