  Testing knowledge is an integral part of summative assessment at schools. It
can be performed in many different ways. In this study we propose assessment of
physics knowledge by using a tournament approach. Prior to a statistical
analysis of the results obtained over a tournament organized in one of Polish
high schools, all its specifics are discussed at length, including the types of
questions assigned, as well as additional self- and peer-evaluation
questionnaires, constituting an integral part of the tournament. The impact of
the tournament upon student improvement is examined by confronting the results
of a post-test with pre-tournament students' achievements reflected in scores
earned in former, written tests. We also present some of students' feedback on
the idea of tournament as a tool of assessment. Both the analysis of the
tournament results and the students' opinions point to at least several
benefits of our approach.
