6 reasons why we shouldn’t have final exams
The Harrisonburg High School exam schedule
May 24, 2017
The last week of school is completely devoted to final exams, which means for students, the last week of school is when the frantic, last-minute study sessions commence. Finals create a lot of unwanted stress; the last week of school should be for relaxing after a hard year of work. But alas, we all have to suppress our excitement about the prospects of summer and focus on getting through one more round of pointless exams. Why are they pointless, you ask? Here’s why:
- Students already have to take a number of standardized tests and AP exams that prove whether or not they know the material. Taking yet another test is unnecessarily redundant.
- Throughout the entire school year, students have to take countless numbers of unit tests and benchmarks to assess their level of understanding on the topics covered. This means that students’ progress is being tracked and evaluated over the course of the whole year. Therefore, taking a cumulative exam at the end of the year doesn’t really tell the teacher anything that they don’t already know about the students’ abilities. If someone has been getting an A the entire year, haven’t they proven that they understand the material?
- Typically, a student who has been getting A’s or B’s the entire year will perform well on the final exam. It is likely that they understand and remember a lot from the entire year, and they have a really good work ethic. Likewise, if someone has been getting a 30% in the class, they probably won’t do too well on the final. They can’t just magically learn a year’s-worth of material in one week. This is just further evidence that finals reflect how the students have been doing all year, which just gives teachers information that they already know.
- By the time students receive their report cards in the summer, they can only look at their finalized grade and move on. They have no way of looking back at their exam to see what they got wrong. One of the best ways to learn is to learn from one’s mistakes, and final exams prohibit that. What’s the point of them if we can’t even learn something from them?
- In my experience, when people cram for finals, they learn just enough to pass the test, but then forget everything they’ve learned afterwards. Students only focus on passing the test, not learning the material. This completely defeats the purpose of school, which is to fully understand and expand your knowledge about a specific topic.
- Finally, the last reason why finals are unnecessary is because they are unfair. It’s the age-old dilemma: some people don’t perform well in high pressure environments, such as exams. A student could be very intelligent and a hard worker, but they might be bad at taking tests. The test is therefore unfair, because it may not accurately portray a student’s full abilities.
Instead of having finals, teachers should give students real-life problems where they would have to apply what they learned. This would give students a creative, realistic way of using their knowledge from the class. One of the most asked questions I hear in school is “Why do we have to learn this?” Having real-life scenarios give students a deeper understanding of what they learned, because it simulates an actual problem that they might face in the future.
Louis • Jan 28, 2025 at 1:37 pm
I just finished another exam today and I was so frustrated. I knew how to do everything, but I just didn’t have the time to do the questions because I was under pressure. I totally agree, it’s so unfair. Like I could have easily gotten a 95+, but I’m just a slow worker and that caused me to not finish many questions and probably get a low mark.
Mark Lonac • May 23, 2023 at 9:44 pm
Thanks to the author of this article for writing it. Perhaps I can lend some perspective from the other side of the coin – I’m a middle school math teacher.
Like them or not, tests are a reality of the country (and world) we live in. Want to be a lawyer? LSAT. Doctor? MCAT. Get a driver’s license. Written + drive test. Teacher? Praxis, PLACE, etc. Professional Engineer? Principles & Practice of Engineering Exam. In fact, I recall having to take a basic math test to work sales at Big 5 Sporting Goods in High School.
Stress/pressure…too much is bad, a mild or moderate amount can stimulate you to productivity and accomplish. Butterflies before a big athletic event – stress hopefully spurring you to a good performance. If you are too stressed out before finals, either you should’ve been doing a better job the whole semester, or you should talk to your teacher about ways to mitigate/alleviate some of that stress.
There are stressful situations in life and it’s best to prepare long in advance. I have a teaching colleague who flew for the Air Force for perhaps 15 years…he tells us and his students about the way they were graded, and it was strict, because in that realm (or for that matter driving your car down the freeway), if you screw up, you and other people die.
20% too much for a final exam’s weight? I had a biochemistry course in college that was 25% weight Test #1. Then 25% weight Test #2. Then 50% Final Exam. No do-overs. Unless, of course, you wanted to do-over the entire class. I think anywhere in that 10-20% is an appropriate transition percentage for a high school course.
I would encourage any MS-ers or HS-ers reading to think about their long-term trajectory and how adequately preparing for a MS or HS final might be great practice for the long haul.
Good luck everybody!
school sucks • Jan 3, 2022 at 7:54 am
fact
Peggy Carter Official • May 18, 2021 at 7:59 pm
I fully agree with you on this. I’m currently stressing out for finals, and we don’t even get paid at school for mental instability, stress, and anxiety. People don’t even know what is going on inside of students homes sometimes, maybe a student is unable to study due to internet problems or the kind of environment they live in. Even if we didn’t get paid for school, money doesn’t solve all problems. Would you rather have money or have mental stability. I for one want to find a safety in school, not a prison.
Sorry if that was REALLY LONG.
Cezer Sotomayor • May 5, 2021 at 1:25 pm
fax
Cole • Apr 23, 2021 at 1:23 pm
Barry Dylan
Rory • Apr 22, 2021 at 10:36 am
Taking exams really effects a student’s mental health. It gives them this survival mindset meaning “If I fail these exams then I won’t be able to to do anything when I grow up” which isn’t healthy. Why should we have to take this “big” test to prove where smart? It’s honestly so stupid especially since everyone is smart in there own way. We shouldn’t take these exams just prove that we have knowledge . Even as we become adults we will probably have little to no knowledge of these exams we took as students. In all honesty we shouldn’t have exams since they barely help us out in our adulthood’s and they leave us drained after a hard year of school work
roxian • Apr 14, 2022 at 10:22 am
agreed
jill leidenheim • Mar 21, 2021 at 11:56 pm
Yes sirree, toats true homie.
Kind regards, ya boi jill
peace
Lolz • Mar 10, 2021 at 11:49 am
I agree sis slay
Stepan • Jan 9, 2021 at 5:30 am
Absolutely agree. The hard work throughout the semester should end with a rewarding break, not the hardest memorization assignment.
Ruby • Jan 7, 2021 at 8:23 am
I am so with you on that!! i agree that we shouldn’t have to take exams on our last days of school because we have done exams all year and it’s hard enough leaving knowing that you left doing exams
Tracy • Dec 26, 2020 at 4:55 am
I TOTALLY agree with you
jalen DeCaldwell • Dec 12, 2019 at 12:34 pm
true that
jennylee • Nov 18, 2019 at 10:47 am
i agree because i do not like taking test and we should get the grade at me get
Shenendehowa 6th grader • May 14, 2019 at 12:15 pm
I agree with all of the point and students are more in a relaxed feeling as they get closer to the end of the year and at the same time, we have finals. So I think that we should get rid of finals altogether
ashley • Jan 2, 2019 at 2:35 pm
At my high school a group of us is trying to eliminate 2nd semester finals for the senior class. Thank you for sharing these points and we will keep these in mind as we present the ideas to our administrative council.
Damian Lind • Dec 17, 2018 at 9:06 am
shut up bob
bob duncan • Jun 11, 2018 at 1:25 pm
i hate school thisdt is boring get me out pls n thx