Exams @ ISB

We had our mid terms last week. It was a weird feeling getting back to exams after such a long time. It had the perfect recipe for disaster: huge syllabus (profs told us that they cover about a 15 day course in 5 days here), little time (3 weeks), back to back exams (4 in 2 days) and huge competition (need I elaborate on the last point?). Strange as it was, the exams didn't feel so bad. Sure the eco paper felt like a PHD dissertation and I committed some gaffes here and there, but the entire concept of an exam has been turned upside down @ ISB. Some exams are open book, open notes. In most exams, we are allowed to prepare a cheat sheet! Kinda takes away the fun. Down the line, I heard that there would be some exams that are take home! The idea is to test application skills and not mugging skills. All questions pertain to application of concepts and depth of understanding and do not hinge on the ability to remember a formula. The grading is also a continuous process and we have quizzes, presentations, group and individual assignments, class participation and other such grading scheme wherein we are being graded nearly every day and not just during the mid and end terms. It's a shame, such schemes weren't employed in our schools and colleges. It would have surely aided our understanding a lot more.

P.S. Speaking on presentation, today we had to present a Marketing case analysis to our section wherein the grading comprised entirely of peer evaluation! Now that was fun.