At the end of every school year, students from all over the world face final exams that often determine a large part of their grades. AP tests, IB assessments, and school finals are often treated as proof of academic ability. However, one exam taken on one day of the year is not an accurate way to measure a student’s true skills. Finals fail to reflect the growth, consistency, and understanding developed throughout the entire year.
One problem with final exams is the fact that they measure students in a very stressful environment. Many students also spend weeks leading up to finals balancing multiple subjects, study hours, and sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. During exam season, many students get much less than that due to the sheer stress and pressure of memorizing an entire year’s learning for a single test. Lack of sleep can not only lead to greatly reduced academic performance, meaning finals reflect a tired student instead of an alert one.
Additionally, final exams reward memorization rather than true understanding. Many students spend days or weeks reviewing formulas and facts only to forget much of the material soon after the test is taken. “Finals make students feel more stressed than they should be,” said Amber A.
Real education should include critical thinking and the application of knowledge in real situations. These skills are better shown in projects and presentations that are completed in ample time.
Final exams are influenced by sleep, stress, and memorization skills, while ignoring effective understanding. A year of learning should not be judged by a single week of testing, and schools should start placing more value on assessments where students can truly do their best, instead of just memorizing months of material.
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