The GP comment is specifically referring to "reciting basic factoids", but they are the "basics" that you need to know by heart to manipulate them. While testi

The GP comment is specifically referring to "reciting basic factoids", but they are the "basics" that you need to know by heart to manipulate them. While testing for "reciting" them is certainly suboptimal, it's cheaper to prepare a test of the sort than a test where you are effectively putting that knowledge to use. A balanced test would do a bit of both (so it does not take ages to prepare and grade, yet ensures you know the basics and can apply them in some problems).