Can anyone comfirm what the evac tests consisted of in the past? I seem to remember seeing a documentary which suggested that the 747 test consisted of students lining up on a platform OUTSIDE the aircraft doors and running through and out the other side. The reason being that it was only intended to demontrate the rate at which people could get out the doors and down the slides.
Not much of an indication of what would happen in a real life emergency!
The same documentary also mentioned Plastique's point about giving "prizes" to try to get some realism in the student's behaviour.