The difference in exam formats between Indian and foreign schools stems from varying educational philosophies and assessment goals. Here’s a breakdown –

Indian Education System –

• Emphasis on expression and critical thinking – Indian schools focus on developing students writing skills, critical thinking and ability to express their thoughts and opinions.
• Holistic assessment – Essay questions allow teachers to evaluate students understanding, analysis and application of concepts as well as their communication skills.
• Preparation for competitive exams – Indian students often prepare for competitive exams like the IIT JEE, NEET or civil services exams which require essay type answers.

Foreign Education Systems (e.g., US, UK, Australia) –

• Focus on standardized testing – Foreign schools often use multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to facilitate standardized testing which enables easy comparison of student performance across different schools and regions.
• Emphasis on recall and recognition – MCQs test students ability to recall and recognize information, which is an important aspect of learning.
• Efficient assessment and grading – MCQs are easier to grade and provide quicker feedback allowing teachers to assess large numbers of students efficiently.

These differences reflect varying educational priorities and assessment strategies. While Indian schools focus on developing writing skills and critical thinking, foreign schools emphasize standardized testing and recall based assessment.