The issue of "testing you on memory recall rather than mathematical ability" is precisely why American students (myself being one) hate the textbook and univers

The issue of "testing you on memory recall rather than mathematical ability" is precisely why American students (myself being one) hate the textbook and university industries in our country. When the problem is phrased your/our way, it's obviously terrible. The business interests and incentives for lots of people involved on the textbook side promote testing on memory recall and limiting how someone is to "earn" their grades.