A Millennium Old and Still Going Strong: A Brief History of the Written Exam

I.C.E. Exchange Program Description : As I.C.E. encourages us all to look at credentialing innovation, I am here to ask the question "But how did we get here in the first place!?" The written examination is a commonplace assessment modality used throughout the credentialing field in both low- and high-stakes applications. The versatility of this tool has led to its adoption at a global scale - but where did it all start? In this session, I will map the history of the written examination from its earliest origins to modern uses. Beginning in Imperial China, this session will discuss how the written exam has both evolved and remained the same as it spread to other countries. In addition to exam content, other factors such as exam administration and security will also be explored.