[@xodus] Doesn't that sorta defeat the point of training?  My impression was that a lot of emphasis was placed on using alchemy.  Now you throw the idea of a no-alchemy exam.  Asylums don't need wild-survival, they need fighting survival.  Their missions are generally locate and neutralize, or recon.  It doesn't seem to fit.

Also using rogues seems risky, as what if the rogues flee?  Why would they keep rogues alive?  It's easier to take them out than capture them usually, I would imagine.

Still the general idea is fun, but I'd think something like this would come earlier on in training than the final year.  It'd be at least as early as midway, maybe earlier.  Additionally, we have people at different levels of training here, from final year to those with several more years to go, to vets, so throwing them all out there wouldn't make much sense either.