<p>There is a benefit to teaching to the test. Not 100% and not to the exact test but making sure the kids are able to do well on the test. That is the purpose of AP exams as well, to make sure the student knows certain information. For those who are going on to graduate school in these disciplines, or taking the MCATs or getting jobs that assume the student knows certain material that was in the courses taken, it is essential that those topics are covered. A departmental exam covering those things show who is teaching them and who is not. It’s wonderful to teach all the extras and instill that love of learning, but the essentials also need to be covered.</p>