In Fairfax County, it is required students who take honors biology, chemistry, and physics to participate in the science fair.

Students undergo a series of assignments in order to accomplish their science fair project. Only a few students per class are chosen to participate in the school’s science fair on Jan. 30.

In a recent poll of 92 freshmen taking part in the science fair, only 10 said that they are looking forward to participating in the science fair.

Freshman Cassie Kim, who takes biology, finds the science fair to be unessential.

“If it weren’t for the science fair project, I would have taken biology honors instead of biology,” Kim said. “But I disagree with the science fair project and I feel as if it is just unnecessary.”

The science fair weighs the same as a test grade and differs in each quarter. The science fair is weighed around 20 percent of a student’s final grade. The science fair has a big impact on a student’s grade. This puts much of stress on many students, not just freshmen.

Sophomore Comfort Reed, who currently takes IB chemistry, agrees with Kim.

“The science fair should be an option instead of a requirement,” Reed said. “We’re already learning at a faster pace. We don’t need to add onto our stress by making us do the science fair project.”

Students may find the science fair to be a pain, but biology teacher Amol Patel finds the science fair to be beneficial.

“I think it’s a good task and a good assignment for students,” Patel said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think the majority of the students are as prepared to do the science fair. But when you get into higher class, it’s required to do similar projects alone, and the science fair really helps prepare students.”

Even though many students find the science fair to be harsh and unfair, there are few students who believe that the science fair should be a requirement.

Jane Oswalt is a sophomore taking IB chemistry. She believes that students should be more challenged and that the science fair is a perfect way to challenge them.

“Honors classes and IB classes are more challenging,” Oswalt said. “The science fair project is just an example of a challenge. As students, it’s our responsibility to keep on challenging ourselves and to accept more challenges so we may improve.”