Melissa asked:

Do you feel that academic intelligence is better than life intelligence/experience? Also do you think
that exams and tests truly show how intelligent one is given the way that some individuals react to
different kinds of stress and pressure?

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If your primary concern is living well then it would be generally agreed that proficiency in real life
situations - wisdom in dealing with practical matters and social situations- is more important than
being a good scholar. But they are both valuable things in themselves.

One of the reasons why university degrees now have a much higher component of 'continuous
assessment' is that some students do not perform well in exams due to nerves. I am totally in favour
of this. Some students, however, enjoy the challenge of exams and do their best work under
pressure. That is why I would not like to see exams completely abolished.

Geoffrey Klempner