What are exams really testing?

In a few months students all over the country will be sitting in a hall, probably freezing cold or boiling hot (never can predict the British weather) ready to take an exam. An exam which they have spent months preparing for, an exam which they have spend hours and hours revising for. And for what?

We walk into a exam hall completely alone. No class notes no homework assignments no coursework units. Completely in the dark with nothing but our memories.

Which brings me to my question, what are exams really testing?

A person who works tirelessly throughout the year completing homework tasks on time, coursework units at deadlines and attending every lesson has it all pushed to one side to sit in a room and be quizzed on how much they can remember.

Therefore, are exams really all they crack up to be? Would it not be better for us to walk into an exam with a folder full of notes and then asked some questions based on what we know and what we can remember with the assistance of our class notes. That way we can ensure those who work hard get the results they deserve compared to those who do nothing only to rock up one day remember a bunch of stuff and get an A grade.

This is one reason why I feel the system is flawed. Many subjects - espicially A levels - don't allow a coursework unit you simply work hard during lessons and then spend 2 months writing and re-writing and writing once more to try and remember it one morning when you sit for a few hours answering questions.

Would we not be better to assess people by looking at how hard they work and how much they are willing to do to succeed? That way when you look at employing someone you see that there grades truly do reflect them and their attitudes towards success, rather than their ability to memorise information.