Students prep for final exams

By Jaelin Brown

News Reporter

As exams approach, teachers must begin preparing their students for finals. Teachers can either have students take a quiz or a project as their final. For Mr. Sarsfield, he prefers that students take a quiz, although projects are easier. 

Students prepare for finals in Mr. Kenealy's journalism class.

“Well, I like quizzes because they're using the grade, but in all seriousness, I think that projects are better because I think doing some type of project-based learning activity or even a project-based final really has the students apply a little bit more to like more real world stuff that we can use, especially as we're using them to test like for the whole semester,” Mr. Sarsfield said.

Freshman Jayla Vazquez said that she gets stressed when exam season approaches. 

“These are big and important tests that I have to take at the end of the school year. The only thing that makes exams a little bearable is the teachers helping me with work and notes,” Vazquez said.

In addition, Nathaniel Nieto thinks that projects are the easier route for students during finals. 

“I prefer projects instead of quizzes, because quizzes might put more pressure on students. They're usually more fun for students, and, and they have more, they have more time to do it than a quiz,” Nieto said.

Along with how students feel about quizzes, teachers have been helping students study for exams. Some students study notes during class, review whatever topic they are learning for that unit, and teachers assist them with the material they must learn in class.

“To prepare for exams, I've been taking notes in class and studying them in my free time to get a better understanding. So I'll be ready in time for exams,” Jakiyah Sutherland said.

Regarding that, it's now time to ask whether students feel finals accurately reflect what they learned over the course of the school year. Nieto believed that it was an in-between debate. He thinks some students don't try on finals, or just don't care enough about them. He also believes it accurately measures what you have learned this school year if you get a passing grade.

“Yes and no, because some students don't, or won't even try on the finals, or some students just don't care, and they don't, like, they don't actually answer the questions on what they learn. And yes, because it also, if you get a good grade on the finals, it shows that you've learned,” Freshman Nieto stated.

On a related note, students may be having difficulty retaining information for exams. Ameenah Tompkins says she does not remember everything she has learned. That is stressful for her because exams make up a big portion of your final grade.

“I don't remember everything that I learned. I can't retain information very well. So yes, it's a bit stressful,” freshman Ameenah Tompkins stated.

Moreover, Mr. Sarsfield wants to express to students that they will be okay after and during finals. He wants to tell students that you go in with a positive attitude and you will come out with a positive outcome.

“I think it's important to understand that final exams, even though it's the end of the year and everyone's tired, that it's not the end-all be-all, and you kind of just study what you can, and you go into it with a positive attitude, and you end up usually pretty much okay,” Sarsfield said. 

Some students may need words of advice for finals and a few words of encouragement. Mr. Blackwood wants students to study slowly, day after day, for a couple of minutes. They need to organize their notes, ask teachers questions, and avoid cramming under pressure.

“Slowly study every day, a few minutes, and do not try to cram at the end, and make sure you have all your notes organized, do your reviews, and see your teachers if you are or have any questions,” Mr. Blackwood said.