This washback study finds that high-stakes testing affects academic performance in tertiary education, suggesting a shift toward 21st-century skills assessment.
Abstract In Bangladesh, we often find students in private universities preparing for the civil service exams at the expense of their academic studies. The civil-service or government jobs are much sought after due to the variety of benefits that they provide. In this paper, I will show how a high-stakes test taken to get a position in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) or Bank Recruitment Exam impacts the academic studies of private university students. The study will propose a change in the testing criteria of the Bangladesh Civil Service/Bank Recruitment Exam. While the current examination focuses on retention and memorisation, the proposal will instead focus on 21st-century skills – critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. Besides suggesting a change in the testing criteria of the two examinations, this study will conclude by providing guidelines on how a student may effectively continue his BCS exam preparation while doing his academic studies.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mohd Izzat Amsyar Mohd Arif (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: