Old Cambridge examination: Draw, from memory, a wheelbarrow turned upside down I came across the following story about the exams students sat in 1858 see page 4 here.

The following questions are taken from the first examinations set by
the The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in 1858.
The Junior papers were for candidates “under 16 years of age” and the
Senior papers were for candidates “under 18 years of age”. [...]
On another paper, candidates were asked to draw, from memory, a
wheelbarrow turned upside down. They were allowed an hour to do so.

I was hoping someone could provide more context for this wheelbarrow question. Such as, what was the purpose of the exam? Why was such an usual question on the exam?
The original question appears to be here:

III. 2 Drawing from Memory
[One hour allowed for this Study.
The Candidates may add any amount of shadow that they think necessary to the full expression of the subject.]
The Candidate is required to make a careful drawing, from memory, of a wheelbarrow turned upside down, with its wheel and legs in the air.

Some scrolling reveals that the prefixed numbers correspond to &quot;the subjects in the regulations&quot;. We find that, for students under 16 years of age, the relevant numbers correspond to (bolded for emphasis by me)

Part III.
Students may also offer themselves for Examination in

Geometrical and Mechanical Drawing
Drawing from the Flat, from Models, from Memory, and in Perspective.
The Grammar of Music.


So this section of the examination was optional. For students under 18 years of age, part II includes an optional section G, which is described as

Section G.
Drawing from the Flat, from Models, from Memory, and in Perspective; and Drawing of Planes, Sections, and Elevations.
Design in Pen and ink, and in colour.
A fair degree of skill in free-hand drawing will be required in order that a Student may pass in this section.
Questions also will be set on the history of principles of the arts of Design.

In conclusion, I think the purpose of the question isn't related to mechanical drawing (which would've fallen under III.1) but to test more artistic drawing skills. It's also worth noting that it's a very broad examination - covering fields such as religious studies, English, Greek, etc. - seemingly intended to determine placement of students:

After each Examination the names of the Students who pass with credit will be placed alphabetically in three honour classes, and the names of those who pass to the satisfaction of the Examiners, yet not so as to deserve honours, will be placed alphabetically in a fourth class.  ...

In other words, the context in OP's link (a math assignment) is very different from the purposes of the exam where the question showed up.