Curves are great when just a few people are doing really exceptionally, and then everyone else is in about a 20% range. They break down and lead to tension between students when they are spread different. I had one class where I pretty much always set the curve (the top student was given a 100%, and then every one else got as any points as they got). So, I felt pressures to either be really sure I got a 100 (then the second top set the curve), or to miss 8-10 on purpose to help everyone else the class, which wouldn't change my score at all. You are completely right about multiple intelligences. On one level, there are some teachers who can work different ones into tests, but they can never test all of them. And that is only the good teachers. Some make tests that don't work for anyone.