The discussion centers on the appropriateness of using a single extremely difficult question as a final exam for a freshman physics class. Concerns are raised about its effectiveness as a cumulative assessment, with arguments suggesting that such an exam would not accurately measure individual student understanding. The preference is expressed for a test format that includes multiple questions of varying difficulty, which would provide a more comprehensive evaluation of students' knowledge and skills. Overall, the consensus leans towards the idea that a single challenging question is not suitable for assessing freshman physics students.
