History Test (assessment)

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 modern era

1.2.1 civil service
1.2.2 education

history
early history

ancient china first country in world implemented nationwide standardized test, called imperial examination. main purpose of examination select able candidates specific governmental positions. imperial examination established sui dynasty in 605 ad , later abolished qing dynasty 1300 years later in 1905. england had adopted examination system in 1806 select specific candidates positions in majesty s civil service, modeled on chinese imperial examination. examination system later applied education , started influence other parts of world became prominent standard (e.g. regulations prevent markers knowing identity of candidates), of delivering standardised tests.

modern era
civil service

from mid 19th century, universities began institute written examinations assess aptitude of pupils. excerpt 1842 tripos examination in cambridge university.

as profession transitioned modern mass-education system, style of examination became fixed, stress on standardized papers sat large numbers of students. leading way in regard burgeoning civil service began move toward meritocratic basis selection in mid 19th century in england.

british civil service influenced imperial examinations system , meritocratic system of china. thomas taylor meadows, britain s consul in guangzhou, china argued in desultory notes on government , people of china, published in 1847, long duration of chinese empire solely , altogether owing government consists in advancement of men of talent , merit only, , british must reform civil service making institution meritocratic. in 1806, honourable east india company established college near london train , examine administrators of company s territories in india. examinations indian civil service - term coined company – introduced in 1829.

in 1853 chancellor of exchequer william gladstone, commissioned sir stafford northcote , charles trevelyan operation , organisation of civil service. influenced ancient chinese imperial examination, northcote–trevelyan report of 1854 made 4 principal recommendations: recruitment should on basis of merit determined through standardized written examination, candidates should have solid general education enable inter-departmental transfers, recruits should graded hierarchy , promotion should through achievement, rather preferment, patronage or purchase . civil service commission set in 1855 oversee open recruitment , end patronage, , of other northcote–trevelyan recommendations implemented on years.

the northcote–trevelyan model of meritocratic examination remained stable hundred years. tribute success in removing corruption, delivering public services (even under stress of 2 world wars), , responding political change. had great international influence , adapted members of commonwealth. pendleton civil service reform act established similar system in united states.

education

students taking scholarship examination inside classroom in 1940

written examinations had been unheard of before 1702 european education. chinese examinations described repeatedly in western literature on china of seventeenth , eighteenth centuries. standardized testing began influence method of examination in british universities 1850s, oral examination had been norm since middle ages. in us, transition happened under influence of educational reformer horace mann. shift decisively helped move education modern era, standardizing expanding curricula in sciences , humanities, creating rationalized method evaluation of teachers , institutions , creating basis streaming of students according ability.

both world war , world war ii demonstrated necessity of standardized testing , benefits associated these tests. tests used determine mental aptitude of recruits military. army used stanford–binet intelligence scale test iq of soldiers.

after war, industry began using tests evaluate applicants various jobs based on performance. in 1952, first advanced placement (ap) test administered begin closing gap between high schools , colleges.