<p>The dichotomy between tests vs homeworks oversimplifies the true situation in college. </p>
<p>It really should be tests, HS type daily homework/extra credit, and long-term assignments. A college experience is more of the first and last rather than the middle types of assessments. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, most US high schools rarely give long-term assignments that compels a student to learn how to manage his/her time in a span of a few weeks, months, or even the entire semester. </p>
<p>Also, many US high schools place far too much emphasis on less essential aspects such as giving extra/deducting too many points for what IMHO are non-essential aspects such as neatness beyond legibility<em>, degree of ornamentation</em>, insistent conformity to the teacher’s approved method for a given solution when there could be multiple equally valid and sometimes better methods, extra credit, etc. </p>
<p>It is one important factor in why students who excel in this environment suddenly find themselves struggling in college while conversely…students who were penalized in the same suddenly find themselves excelling in college. </p>
<p>While college-level work isn’t all tests, the testing regimen in high schools comes much closer to the actual college experience than high school type daily homeworks/extra credit. The latter certainly does far less IMHO to foster communication and critical thinking skills than tests or better yet…long-term assignments commonly given in colleges. </p>
<ul>
<li>a.k.a. Grading on basis of “arts and crafts” rather than actual academic acumen.</li>
</ul>