Finals week was CRAZY stressful in my opinion. It involved lots of semester review, flashcards, coffee, and studying. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students had not taken a final in over two years (or at all), but they know about the schedule and studying that comes along with it from seeing it in TV shows, movies, and hearing other kids and teachers talk about it. The only good thing that came with finals week was the schedule that came along with it. “While many students enjoyed the shortened days and long weekends of finals week, the stress of exams made some people wonder, “Is this really necessary?”In my opinion, no. Let me tell you why.
According to the Chicago Tribune, “When a grade hinges on just one test, it’s impossible to get a clear idea of someone’s true performance.” This is completely fair; say a student has a bad day on the day of their final, (which isn’t unlikely per se, with all the studying some students do, someone could easily be sleep deprived which affects focus among other things) that is a considerably weighted test that would definitely have the ability to make a semester grade fall. It’s valid to mention that some students just aren’t good test takers, no matter how much time they put into studying, especially with so much stress and pressure to do well.
Finals are also easily able to negatively affect students’ GPA. Even though it’s a single test you’ve taken and just happens to be weighted 10 percent of your grade for the whole semester. This can obviously affect students’ GPA, which is a big part of getting into colleges for students who plan on attending universities. It could be potentially unfair for students who are hard workers if they happen to fail one test and then see that their GPA gets messed up, which puts them in the position of having to try and raise it again, which can be difficult.
A single test does not always show how much students have learned in the class over the semester. Learning progress is looked at throughout the semester when students take summative and formative tests, which already happen regularly. I had to take several tests the week before finals, which added unnecessary stress to the week leading up to the test along with already having to study for other exams.
Overall, finals are an extremely stressful way of testing students that could be avoided pretty easily by implementing other ways to see what students have learned over the course of a semester.One way schools could do this are semester reflections, which would give students the opportunity to talk about what they learned throughout the semester, what they most enjoyed, their favorite subjects covered in the class, biggest takeaways from the class, or other types of reflections. If that ended up not being a viable option, something like small group discussions could be a great way for students to discuss what they have learned. Students could have small, low-pressure conferences with their teachers as well depending on how much time they have. There are many other options that would be much better for students’ mental health and stress levels compared to traditional tests.
FAQs
Due to the tests taking place in one stressful week, finals typically don't capture a student's full understanding of the content. By eliminating finals in college, students can be judged based on their effort and comprehension throughout the semester.
How bad do finals affect your grade? ›
Normally, final exams are worth 20% of your report card grade. If you are in high school, the first quarter and second quarter grades are worth 40% each.
Are finals actually important? ›
Not only do finals prepare you for the next steps of your life, but they also help you do better in your endeavors throughout high school. Studying consistently leading up to them will give you a better understanding of the material and may help you achieve better grades on general assignments, quizzes, or projects.
Why do we even have finals? ›
Final exams provide an important gateway for students to realize their proficiency in the field when choosing an academic career beyond high school and help prepare themselves to grow as learners who will soon face bigger examinations in the future.
Why shouldn't we have tests? ›
Demand better ways to assess and promote student learning.
Standardized tests measure little of what parents and others want children to learn and experience in schools. They do not measure creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, leadership or empathy.
Why should finals be optional? ›
Without needing to study for finals in classes that they already excel in, students could focus on preparing for classes that they do struggle with. “The benefit is that the kid can get prepared for another final more readily and they've already put in the work and they've earned it.
What is an A+? ›
A+ (90% and above): Outstanding work that demonstrates independent thought and critical reflection and has an excellent research question as well as systematic and persuasive answers to this question.
How do final exams affect students? ›
According to a Youth Risk Behavior report “In 2019, about 37% of high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.” In my high school, due to final exams being critical contributors to class grades at the end of the semester, they can be even more stressful for students than other ...
Are finals hard in high school? ›
First, students should take a step back and acknowledge that final exams are indeed exceptionally difficult. Not only do exams represent an accumulation of an entire semester's worth of content, but they also tend to seem so far away that many students put off studying until it's too late.
Why are finals so stressful? ›
While some stress may stem from poor time management and preparation, students may also worry about how a low test score could affect their course grade and future goals. Plus, many courses have end-of-term projects due as well, which can make preparing for final exams more challenging.
After a long semester of hard work, everything comes down to taking a dreaded final. As a standard, most finals are worth somewhere from 10-20 percent of a total grade. A 20 percent final has multiple effects on students, for some it can be a miracle worker, and for others a grade wrecker.
What do finals do? ›
Generally, finals include exams and projects that measure what students learned throughout a given semester. Finals often take more time to complete than other tests or assignments. A student's professor or a test proctor typically oversees final exams.
Who created finals for school? ›
The concept of exams was invented in the late 19th century by an American businessman named Henry Fischel.
What are good reasons to miss final exam? ›
Illness or injury, family emergencies, certain University-approved curricular and extra-curricular activities, and religious holidays can be legitimate reasons to miss class or to be excused from a scheduled examination.
How do final exams cause stress? ›
Some stress can stem from concerns about time management or course materials, but students may also worry about what a “bad” result could mean for future goals, such as a desired career path or major. Finals are stressful, but they don't have to cause distress.
Why should tests be banned? ›
Standardized testing should be banned in schools because test scores are not an accurate representation of a student's capability, knowledge, and qualification. When a student is taking a standardized test, it's not testing them on their knowledge of a certain subject or skill.
What happens if I don't take my final exam? ›
A student's performance on final exams may impact their overall grade for the class, and they may need to achieve a certain grade in order to pass. If a student chooses not to take the final exam, they will likely receive a failing grade for the class.
