College essays vs. College tests?

[Reaganfan]

Which do you prefer? I think I like essays better, because it is easier to fail a test than an essay.

[Lief 🗽]

Essays, by far. The worst thing in the world is timed in-class essay tests. Multiple choice is okay, but I find that to be pretty rare (at least if you're doing something in the humanities/social sciences).

[Purple State]

I prefer short answer analysis over MC tests or essays. Essays give too much interpretive power to the reader and MC tests always end of tricking you or catching you with stupid mistakes. Short answers are usually clearer questions, to the point and require a succinct and proper analysis.

[Holmes]

I won't be doing essays. Where's my prize?

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Essays. I enjoy writing much more than things like multiple choice tests. They also weed put those kids who make good grades by guessing well on multiple choice.

[ilikeverin]

Multiple-choice tests, followed by essays.  I hate timed essay tests; they allow no time to think, which I always need on essays (because I tend to over-write a lot).

[12th Doctor]

Essays and papers.  They might seem to take more time, but multiple choice tests are the bane of my existence.  As far as I'm concerned, if the best way to understand something is to memorize a bunch of very specific, trivial, minutia about it, then its not worth knowing.

[12th Doctor]

... and if that is not the best way of understanding something (which is far more often the case), then well, the teacher isn't teaching it very well, are they?

[Platypus]

exams. Everyone is in exactly the same situation and its testing pure knowledge.

[Rin-chan]

Definitely essays.  I remember stories about events better than I know the year or people involved, so essays are better for how I learn

Rin-chan

[Daniel Z]

essay test>essays>MC test

[Jake]

essay test>essays>MC test

This, but the gap between the first two is vast.

[Sensei]

Essays. I don't know why, but one of my best skills is writing really good essays. Doesn't matter what the subject is. Multiple Choice always ends up biting me with stupid nuances.

[ilikeverin]

Argh.  Am I really the only person here that prefers things objective and cut-and-dried rather than subjective and wishy-washy?

[CultureKing]

essay test>essays>MC test

This, but the gap between the first two is vast.

Agreed

Argh.  Am I really the only person here that prefers things objective and cut-and-dried rather than subjective and wishy-washy?

Probably not, but personally I hate it when there are multiple choice tests, it doesn't demonstrate that you have actually learned anything. To show that you have gained knowledge you need to be able to use the information you have taken in and explain it and connect it to other relevant subjects. It's all about being able to explain and develop your knowledge rather than regurgitate otherwise useless facts. Then again I was an IB student in high school... we never really have MC tests or anything, even in Math.

[Sensei]

Argh.  Am I really the only person here that prefers things objective and cut-and-dried rather than subjective and wishy-washy?

if i weren't so good at the subjective and wishy-washy, i'd agree with you.