The point of the test is to prove that you know the material. If you’re taking the class to learn the material, then the only person that you need to prove it to is yourself. You can skip the test altogether. If you also consider getting the degree to be a bonus, you might as well optimize the grade a bit.
Testing is an excellent learning tool. More efficient than studying, in fact. The extreme example of this is spaced repetition for rote memorization, but if you try to optimize learning by skipping the tests, I think you’re doing it wrong.
I think the argument is that it is desirable for the optimal strategy for learning to be very similar to the optimal strategy for getting a good grade. Greater information about what is on the exam increases the difference between the two.
The point of the test is to prove that you know the material. If you’re taking the class to learn the material, then the only person that you need to prove it to is yourself. You can skip the test altogether. If you also consider getting the degree to be a bonus, you might as well optimize the grade a bit.
Testing is an excellent learning tool. More efficient than studying, in fact. The extreme example of this is spaced repetition for rote memorization, but if you try to optimize learning by skipping the tests, I think you’re doing it wrong.
I think the argument is that it is desirable for the optimal strategy for learning to be very similar to the optimal strategy for getting a good grade. Greater information about what is on the exam increases the difference between the two.