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 something at the end of the semester is necessary to see what we have learned in the last semester. In some classes I think a project would be better, but tests are sometimes nice because you take it and you're done. But a project you have to work on for a while. I think semester test should be %10 of our grade. Enough to change you're grade it you don't or do know what you're doing at the end of the semester.
I agree, I think that 10% is the perfect amount of impact on a grade.
I think they can be somewhat necesssary but its really stressfull for students and impacts a lot of your grade. if you had like a B+ and you fail your test it can go down a lot. It can be really good or really bad. Having to have a block schedule and change lots of things like open campus is also really confusing for everyone.
This is why I think that the semester tests should just impact our grade less. Maybe like 5-10% of our grade.
I feel that semester tests are not necessary because they are very stressful and a waste. I feel that instead of a semester test it should just be a rap up of the unit the class is already on. I think that just having a normal test instead of one big one would be more beneficial and make more sense.
I can see that, however, do you think that the unit test should be impact our grade just like any other test? Or should it be more impactful like a semester test?
I do not think that semester test are necessary because they don't do anything for us besides give a big test over everything. I would rather have nothing for a semester ending think and just get out of school right away.
I can see that, but we also have to show what we know. And I think no matter what we think, there will always be a semester test/project. The question is, how impactful should these tests/projects be? Rightn now that max % is 20%. I think that should be lowered down to 10%.
I do believe that semester tests are necessary. It seems to be an overview of the whole semester and it shows teachers what the students have learned. I do think some tests, especially math, are maybe too heavily graded.
I agree, I think that the impact on the grade could be a lot less.
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