Week after week, tests begin to pile up for students. The act of balancing studying for all of one’s core classes can be tricky especially for Freshmen, many of which are feeling overwhelmed. In the quarter so far, most freshman classes (non-electives) have completed around two units. This means that most of these classes have taken around two tests, along with a quiz or two as well. The number of tests being around eight only including core classes, not electives. Viewing the number of tests shows how it can put pressure on students.
Unit tests can seem daunting to students, as all recent topics are condensed into one score that can drastically change a students’ grade. Many students forget topics that were learned earlier in the unit. A freshman, Anya Crevits said: “When we have unit tests, I find it hard to study because it’s a lot of material and it’s hard to remember.”
Quizzes place less pressure on students, as those usually cover less material and have less weight in the gradebook. By testing students on small amounts of material at a time, studying becomes easier, taking less time, which could be used for other subjects. Dates for these tests and quizzes put a burden on students as many classes have tests and quizzes in the same week, making studying for them difficult as it seems like they have to push aside certain classes to study for more difficult subjects.
Crevits also said, “I remember when I had a biology test and a history test on the same day, I kind of picked one to prioritize…”
While this may seem annoying, this schedule only happens for about a week every month. The time after these tests give students time to reset after the week of studying and then taking tests. Many students spend hours after school studying for tests, but some don’t need that much time. Study time and understanding the material can vary from student to student. Some spend more time on subjects than others.
When asked if she’s ever studied for High School Tests, Cassandra McCaughey, a Freshman said, “No, I don’t think so, I can’t quite remember.” Instead, McCaughey listens to the teacher and does homework to understand the subject. Opinions on tests vary based on the student, but most, if not all, dislike them. Tests largely impact students’ grades and can put pressure on them, while quizzes are less-weighted opportunities to change grades. These study times for these changes are based on the students’ overall knowledge. While these tests are stressful, they do prepare students for important tests and exams in college. Even though it is hard, taking regulatory assessments is truly a High School reality.
