COMMENTARY

Scrap the CCTS
Dark rings circling the eyes, napping here and there in lessons, yawning loudly whenever possible. All of these are the classic trademarks of a typical CCT driven student. In truth, the academic world we RI students live in now is plagued with a disease, the CCT. How many times have you been scolded by your parents because of a 14/30 for a math paper? How many sleepless nights have you spent on a single biology paper? This disease is deadly and merciless and something has to be done before it causes some serious damage.
The common class test better yet known as the CCT is a set of tests that are designed specially by teachers to gauge a student’s understanding of a particular subject. The CCT serves to distinguish the better students from the weaker ones allowing the teachers to give more attention to the weaker students. It sounds as if it is a great tool in the education system, however the CCT proves to be a double edged sword which will cut both ways if not handled properly. Although the CCTs are set to a degree of difficulty that is manageable by the students, other factors affecting the results of the test should also be taken into account. Problems like parental stress, and mental conditioning on the particular day are all key issues to completing a successful paper. The test results may in fact not be as accurate as what many would perceive, with all the commitments of RI students. Furthermore with the difference in scores between the higher scoring students and the lower scoring students distinction and segregation would soon appear. Think for a second what would happen to a class with such divided groups. The consequences are dire and the aim of a conducive studying environment for the students would be shattered. Reports of students attempting suicide over a failed examination paper is increasing in an alarming rate, and all this because of a piece of paper?
Now think of a Raffles Institution without CCT, students would be able to study without any pressure, thus knowledge would be absorbed much faster than before. There will be no late night studying and more to the point no more tired students who should be enjoying their youth and childhood. CCA and other commitments to train the social aspects of a student will not be such a heavy burden on the students. A new generation of better equipped youths with both academic and social skills would be created without the policy of CCT, wouldn’t that be the ideal scenario?

What is an exposition?

An expostion is a piece of writing that aims to convey a certain piece of information to the readers. There are many kinds of expository writings some of those include, descriptive essay and comparison essay and cause-and-effect essay. These three forms of exposition are the most common kinds of essays that we encounter in school now. Expostition can be presented in many ways, the writer can use things like our senses or a certain object to bring across his point, or even giving a full analysis of a text etc. Exposition can also be seen as a piece of creating writing.
It is up to the author to how to present his argument of points and futhermore the writer's points can never be differentiated as right or wrong. The only thing that matters is that the expository essay is well supported with evidence and is written in an interesting manner to capture the reader's attention