I hate exams

After many years, I'm back in the student seat and I hate it.  I'm trying to study for exams worth 81% of the course and they involve (UGH!)  memorising names and dates.   I can't believe in this day and age at such a pretigious university (studying education no less!) they're still doing this to us!  I find it hard to believe they can't find a better way to assess what we know.