I prefer the closed book as it is safer, taking into account to attach the long equations and formulas in an appendix to the examination paper. I experienced this in the past.Best regards

Dear Dr. Nabeel

many thanks for your answer, but Is your preference coming from that a closed book has no drawbacks?

Please let me know if the following references/sites are helpful to you in securing an answer to you question:

1.  Closed book, invigilated exams versus open book, open ... - Ascilite

http://www.ascilite.org/conferences/singapore07/procs/williams-jb.pdf

effectiveness of 'open book, open web' (OBOW) examinations. .... with a single set of questions; each question including reference to both OBOW and closed book exams.) ....

http://www.ifets.info/journals/10_3/14.pdf [viewed 9 Aug 2007].

2.  Open Book Vs. Closed Book Testing: An Experimental ... - Asee peer

https://peer.asee.org/open-book-vs-closed-book-testing-an-experimental-comparison.pdfstudents during examinations: open- book or closed- book. ... information, (b) pay more attention to facts, (c) study only the assigned texts, (d) apply surface study ...

3.  Using Open-Book Exams to Enhance Student Learning ... - ERIC

http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1092705.pdf

performed slightly better on open-book exams versus closed-book exams, but for students that predicted .... For example, the use of open-book exams may require professors to ask questions on .....

http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED537423.pdf.

4.  Examining the testing effect with open- and closed-book tests

http://psych.wustl.edu/memory/Roddy%20article%20PDF's/Agarwal%20et%20al%20(2008)_ACP.pdf

Sep 19, 2007 ... Two experiments examined the testing effect with open-book tests, ... Prior research has shown that tests enhance learning, but the effects of open- vs. ... before and during reading), while closed-book test questions are similar ...

5.  Open Book Exams [pdf] - Ryerson University

http://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/lt/resources/handouts/open_book_exams.pdf

Open book exams and closed book exams have different ... Exam questions are distributed to students in advance of the exam, allowing students to prepare ...

Dennis

Dennis Mazur

Yes, dear Dr. Salam. Students, even the post graduate students may provide any means to cheat with an open book exam. Best regards

Valued information Dear Dr.Dennis Mazur

But I need your personal experience

Best regards

That is right Dear Dr. Nabeel Hameed

Accept my respect

You are welcome dear Dr. Salam.Best regards 

Thank you Prof.Dr. Nabeel

It is very difficult for the postgraduate students to keep everything in their memory in real life. That's why I think the open book exam is right. Students need to know how to solve the problems or questions using what they have learned and using the formulas or equations in the book. Memorizing information can be forgotten in a short time, but if they know how to use the knowledge, in real life, they can solve the problems using the formulas in the book.

Best regards.

Hello Dr Salam 

I think close book system is the best all the time specifically with undergraduate students. Open book system can be used for a change or to add suspense flavor to a class. This is surely my viewpoint only.

Liqaa 

Hello, Dr.Liqaa

I fully agree with you regarding the undergraduate students 

Thanks and respect

Dear Salam Jassim Hmood,

Good evening

   I have no experience in open book exam but I have a good practice in closed book exam for students. I think whatever the type of the exam is? Doesn’t a matter, the way of selection the types of questions particularly the graduation in the level of questions is so important in the assessment of the students.

Kind regards

Raid  

Hello dear Dr. Salam

"Open book examination is better than closed book examination"

Because it reduces the chances of cheating. Individuals are not tense and they can understand and absorb all that has been taught. They can learn more this way, by checking what they have missed, on the spot. Also, it ensures that the individual has read the text and understood it thoroughly in order to be able to hunt for the answer in the right place. It helps them to become more open minded and accept the fast changing world even when they become older and reach an age when they do not want to change. It makes the best use of technology and facilities that were created mainly for the purpose.

People can just copy from one another in the test. What is the point of tests if all the answers are given to you? Open book test would also increase the chances of students cheating in the examination. Students would also oversee the use of studying and neglect the need for it. Everyone will score a good mark unless they do not bother taking the effort to prepare their books. The use of the test is to test for knowledge, and what is the point of tests.

Best regards, Mourad

Dear Salam,

Two potentially key aspects in answering your question:

1.  One potentially important consideration is the type of testing that the university student may encounter once he or she has completed education, training, and is now at work or out in practice.  What is the type of "professional competency" examination will the potential study encounter throughout the rest of his or her career.

2.  Another consideration is the type of "continuing education" the university graduate, post-training" will need to fulfill to continue to be able to work or practice.

The shared question of these two points is:  To what extent university education should prepare the student for post-graduation and post-training examinations they may need to complete to continue in their work or practice?

Dennis

Dennis Mazur

Dear All,

Closed book exams are much easier for students because in case of open book system, use and employment of the rules, situations should be analysed, even new situations synthetised. I teach zoology, biological control and ecology. Ecology needs thinking so I have to ask very elementary questions which means that an open book exam would be insolvable for average MSc students. Unfortunately, the number of advanced students is too low.   Of course, open book method would be optimal for talented and diligent – thinking – students.  Thus, regarded, that the students’ quality – ability and diligence - is determined, a teacher cannot change or select the really interesting methods. By the way, the open book method demands much more work also for the teacher.   

With an open book exam, we are testing understanding rather than memory.

Let us take the following example:

Test:  solving a set of 10 mathematical formula as applied to a data set.

In a closed book test, an individual who did not remember any of the formulas being tested would most likely score low since his or her answers to a multiple choice test (A, B, C, D) would be random.

In an open book test, the individual has an opportunity to look up the formulas and even examples of applying the formulas in various examples.  

The question for both examiners is as follows:

What do you want to "test"?  The individual's understanding (in terms of the individuals abilities to use (apply) the formulas to the 10 data sets in the exam.  Or do you want to test both (i) the individual's ability to remember formulas and (2) the individual's ability to use (apply) the formulas?

Dennis

Dennis Mazur

Often you are given a formula book during an exam so I found open book exam useful mostly in subjects which require lots of memorising  rather than calculations.

Hi 

• Closed book exams are vary easy to students 

Dear  My colleague Dennis Mazur

I am grateful for your valuable answer and I will add it to the question

Best regards

It is my honor that we are scientifically communicated, dear Dr.Raid M. Al-Ani 

My respect for your experienced answer 

You are agreed with me, Dear Colleague Dr.Derra Mourad 

Many thanks Dear

It is really interesting answer and you added new value and extension to the question 

Many thanks for this valued answer Der Dr.András Bozsik

Yes Dear Colleague Gehan Selim

We are trying to test the student's understanding more than the student memory even though it is also important

Thank you for adding a very important point related to testing the student's understanding

Accept my respect 

Also, your answer is related to my opinion 

Accept my respect Dear Sir Joseph Ahn 

Thank you very much, Dear colleague, Dr.Massar Saieb Kadhim

Dear Salam,

One of the much deeper questions underlying these insightful replies tp your question relates to the meaning of the term "understanding".  I believe it is very difficult to define "understanding" in general.  And, oftentimes, it is still difficult to define the term "understanding" in specific contexts.  Is "understanding" a static concept in the sense of an individual remembering a fact and regurgitating his or her remembrance on an examination?  Or should there be "a stronger sense of understanding" where the individual takes "their understanding" and expands it into something more, e.g., a new concept.or the beginnings of a new theory.

Dennis

Dennis Mazur

I think closed book exame because is more difficult, the student have to memorize terms and latin scientific names and also have to understand the concepts, equations and everything related the texted he studied. Therefore,  the open book exam I think may be easier.