Bradley students scramble to study as exam season approaches

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

by Lauren Dame, Video Story Editor

As always, with the holiday season comes exam season. Bradley’s midterms run from Tuesday, December 13th to Friday, December 16th. With students dealing with the stress of exam season alongside scrambling to get all of their assignments in, winter break couldn’t arrive any sooner.

The stress of midterms will depend on the students’ grades and class difficulty levels. Kayla Dame (10) worries most for her biology exam “there was a lot of new information that [she] had to learn in a short amount of time, and there's a lot of units.” Studying for midterms often feels like relearning five months of material. Ava Spohn (12) weighs in, “I am least looking forward to my AP Biology midterm because we have learned so much this semester.” With many worksheets and assessments to look over, studying is overwhelming to many.

As students grow into young adults, they begin to develop study habits that work for them. To prepare for exams, Ashley Hernandez (12) says, “in order to study for my midterms I’ll be spending a few hours at the library.” Going to a quiet environment is one of the best methods for effective studying. She adds that she’ll be “reviewing old tests, quizzes, practice, and of course quizlet.” Quizlet becomes students’ best friend when studying as it is one of the greatest ways to refresh your memory.

Exam season can be stressful for both staff and students, however teachers seem to have an added opportunity with the exam schedule. Science teacher Mrs. Riggs says she “likes spending time with [her] students in the morning and then having time in the afternoon to get work done.” The slower paced day gives teachers plenty of opportunity to create a relaxing test environment while also having an open afternoon to grade or plan. Science teacher Mrs. Ulring says her “favorite part of exam week is getting to spend a longer period of time with the groups of students.” She adds that “the longer periods [help to not] feel rushed, and you have more time to interact with students.” The lengthy testing time should take away at least some of the stress.

The ongoing argument of whether midterms really are a good way to measure a students’ understanding of the subject so far often makes the season more gruesome for students. Hernandez speaks on the topic, “having to go back to around 15 weeks to remember the information you already learned tends to be difficult.” 15 weeks of review for multiple classes, at that. Spohn adds, “I think [tests] can be inaccurate because some people are not the [best] test takers.” The anxiety and stress of a grade at risk might make an exam difficult for a student no matter their level of understanding.

The level of course also should depend on the exam difficulty. Riggs believes that “a college level course should include a midterm. This will help prepare students for college.” All college classes will have exams, and more often. Getting familiar with the concept in high school is recommended on all fronts. “Your non-college courses and electives could give an alternative assessment, like a project, lab or activity that would show what the student had learned during the semester,” continues Riggs. The perspective of exam importance varies based on age, and tests like midterms will always be a part of life until a student is done getting their education.

With two exams scheduled per day for four days, the week will be over before anyone realizes. Closing this chapter of the school year before proceeding to the holiday season will be a big relief. Study hard, and then rest before coming back in January.