At the end of each semester, students are required to take a big assessment for each class to show what they have learned and whether or not they are proficient. These tests usually have a big impact on the student’s grade. Studies have shown that these tests stress out students AND teachers, especially at the end of the year. But are these tests really necessary and beneficial for the student’s future?
Big impactful tests like these can be very beneficial to students. In an article, Chicago Tribune, it states, “if we didn’t have exams that accounted for large percentages of our grades, students would no longer have the opportunity to drastically change how they do at the end of the semester”. This could support both sides of the argument. Some students, with a lower grade, might be very thankful for these tests so then they have the opportunity to bump their grades back up. However, some students with high grades may not like these tests because they are afraid that it will lower their grade. So should these tests be less impactful on students’ grades?
Semester tests can cause a lot of stress on students. Students have to spend hours upon hours studying for these tests. Not because they don’t know the information, but because there is so much information all packed into one test. The studying part can be stressful, but also just taking the tests. Most of these tests are very long in length or just very time consuming. Not just students, but teachers too. Teachers have to prepare all of the study guides and usually make these long tests. People and students can’t forget that teachers put in a lot of effort into their job into making sure all students have a chance to be successful in life and giving students as many opportunities as possible. And the better you do on these tests, the more opportunities you will have.
Would it be better if we replaced semester tests with semester projects? Projects can be less stressful and can be worked on over time, not in a small period of time. However, some people, like myself, are not very creative. Many classes do choose to do projects instead, however, most classes just stick to tests, especially the core classes. So this could really go both ways. Or like Bruns' classes, maybe semester tests could be group tests. Making it less stressful, but still a test. Personally, I really like having group tests, not to rely on my classmates, but to be less stressed. A flaw could be a student slacking, but maybe their could be rules applied. Maybe if a student is slacking, they are kicked out of the group tests. There are many other alternative options than just big impactful semester tests.
In my opinion, I think that semester tests are necessary and beneficial for a student’s future. Though it may be very stressful, I think that it is very important for the student. However, I believe that these semester tests shouldn’t impact our grades so much. I usually have a really good grade in all classes, but when I take semester tests, my grade always happens to go down. Usually because it is really hard to get a 100% on these tests.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2010-01-14-1001150311-story.html
https://seamannews.com/25481/opinion/are-finals-necessary/
Are semester tests necessary?
Would it be better to have semester projects?
How much should semester tests impact a students’ grade?
Replies
I think that teachers benefit from the tests but not the students. I don't like semester tests but I do see how they could be necessary. I don't think they should impact grades significantly because they can be very difficult for some students.
I think it would be good for the teachers to see how well they are teaching and not put so much pressure on the students.
I think that semester test are necessary because it shows the teachers what you have learned. If kids do poorly on a part of the test the teacher will know that she needs to spend more time on that part for the next year. I think that they dont impact your grade as much as we think so we should still have them.
I agree, I think that the test is important for a studen'ts future.
I personally don't think that semester tests are necessary. If a student has shown throughout the year that they know the concepts, they shouldn't need to show it in a test. People can have bad days and this can affect their whole grade. I would like better to have semester projects.
I agree, we put in really hard work all year, just for 1 test.
Personally, I like the Semester projects better, if they were to impact a grade, they should only impact it by 10%. Some people struggle with tests, especially in math. I don't think they are necessary. If I can complete the work beforehand, I should be able to complete the work later, and I shouldn't be tested on it. Teachers aren't given semester tests, yet I have a feeling if you were to give them a semester test, some of them would get a few questions wrong. Do you think a teacher should take a semester test? they have all of the PD days, yet we don't know what they are really taking out of it.
I also think that students should get to know what teachers do on their PD days.
I agree with you, I think that they should also be less impactful on the student's grade. I think that it would be really interesting if a teacher took a semester test, or at least some form of test to test how they taught and what they could have done better.
No, I dont think semester testing is nessaser becase its usally over the whole quater and a lot of people including me forget what has all happend at the begging. I would much rather have a semester prdject becasue it would be easair and it would be more injoyable
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