Abstract:

Assessment is recognized to be an essential aspect of student learning, having a crucial effect on it. Indeed, the most important thing lecturers can do for promoting students' learning is to assess their performance. Testing, as a part of the assessment procedure, is more than simply taking a sample of students learning. It provides the opportunity to give feedback, which increases motivation and learning if it is prompt and proper. Frequent testing allows the students to receive regular feedback. This article analyzes the effects of assessing students by means of a weekly cumulative testing scheme, which was applied to a intermediate microeconomics course. Our experience shows that, if compared with previous years, students are more engaged in the course because they must attend classes to take the tests. Therefore, a higher ratio of students finished the course. Even more, the experience also shows that massive testing increases the pass rate and overall students' performance.