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 believe that semester tests are kind of necessary. I think that we should still take semester tests but they shouldn't be as heavily graded. I think that it should be as big as any other test but it would just have a lot more information on it instead.
What do you think the max % should be for how it impacts our grade. I was thinking around 5%-10%.
I think semester tests are necessary because they show the teachers what you learned and what you need help on in the future school year. I think semester projects would be a nice change though, because a lot of people can't focus when taking an hour-long test, so the projects would help a lot.
I understand what you are saying and partially agree, however, are they that accurate?
No, I do not think that semester tests are necessary because of inaccurate they are. I don't think that they show what a student knows because usually students get stressted out while studying, and then when they take the test they forget everything.
I agree with you there, I don't think that semester tests are very accurate. But then what should we do? Projects?
I think semester tests are not necessary because it is not an accurate display of what the student learned during their time in class. Kids get really stressed before tests and they don't get the best greade they can. It would be better if we didn't have 8 huge tests at the end of each semester.
I can see that, these tests are really stressfull. But would projects be that stressfull? Or maybe group tests like what we have in Histroy and CWI.
I think that semester tests are partially necessary. I think it would be better to have semester test projects instead because it would be easier on the students.
I can see that, but how do you feel about group tests? Do you like having group tests in Bruns' class?
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