Top 9 Key Facts about History of Competitive Exams
1.Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD) in China followed Imperial Examination System (Keju) to select candidates for civil service based on merit.
2. In ancient India, gurukuls and ashrams tested students rigorously in areas like philosophy, mathematics, and the Vedas.
3. In 1855, Britain introduced competitive exams for the Indian Civil Service (ICS)
4. The College Board introduced the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) in 1926 as a standardized college entrance exam.
5. The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) was introduced in 1936 for graduate school admissions.
6. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was established in 1950 to conduct exams for civil service recruitment.
7. In the 1960s and 70s, entrance exams like the IIT-JEE and All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) (now NEET) were introduced.
8. The U.S. implemented Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883 for federal and state jobs.
9. In the 1990s, exams like the GMAT and GRE began offering computer-adaptive testing.