As the academic year draws to a close, students are mentally bracing for the dreaded last week of school—finals week. Colleges disguise these exams as the ultimate test of a student’s knowledge of a subject. But finals have never been an accurate show of students’ capabilities.
“For college students, exams and academics are a major source of stress… according to the American Addiction Center, more than 89% of respondents said they felt stress from exams, and nearly 74% said studying brought them stress.” Cole Claybourn wrote in a U.S. News article, “How to Deal with College Finals Stress.”
With one or two finals, this week would not be as atrocious as it feels. However, most students take five or more classes, meaning all of their finals occur within a short amount of time. On top of multiple exams, they often juggle other responsibilities, such as papers, projects or extracurriculars. With barely a chance to eat and sleep, students’ rigorous schedules can lead many to burnout and increased anxiety, hindering their overall performance.
If the idea of finals wasn’t stressful enough, some students don’t excel at taking tests. According to ASDC writer Thomas Armstrong, “Standardized tests don’t value creativity. A student who writes a more creative answer in the margins of such a test doesn’t realize that a human being won’t even see this creative response; that machines grade these tests, and a creative response that doesn’t follow the format is a wrong response.”
Exams commonly rely on students memorizing facts and formulas rather than critical thinking and application of material. An exam tends to cover a wide range of topics, which can force students to prioritize certain topics over others. The wide coverage of material can lead to overwhelming gaps in understanding.
Schools can do better by first acknowledging that this is an issue to begin with.
Some argue that a more holistic approach is needed, which considers the student’s performance throughout the semester instead of one singular test. A student’s grade may consist of papers, projects, presentations and quizzes, each weighted accordingly. Many teachers have already adopted this strategy with normal coursework, but the sheer weight of the final throws off any potential fairness.
Colleges often consider exams as a necessary “final step” in one’s academic journey, but multiple studies have proven this false. Reevaluating our assessment of student knowledge could lead to a more effective learning environment, giving students time to breathe and prepare for the summer.