After a semesters work of homework, tests and quizzes, I look on Infinite Campus at my four borderline grades trying to decide which to exempt. The fact that any of my grades could drop because of one test is baffling. The final exam policy at LT needs to be redesigned in order to account for the work put in by students during the year, instead of overloading students with multiple high stake tests in three days.

The LT final is worth 20 percent of a semester grade and covers all the material taught throughout that semester. As a student, I can attest to seeing many of my grades dropping because of the exam. Despite an immense amount of prep, it becomes an overwhelming amount of studying required by having up to three tests in one day. It is known that high school stress levels have gotten worse but in a recent study published by the American Psychological Association, it was discovered that half of the students surveyed were chronically stressed. The stress of keeping up good grades is magnified through finals because it is the last grade of the semester and with the increasing competition to get into college, GPAs matter more.

However, LT’s final policy can be applauded. The administration scheduling exams before winter break gives students a true break from schoolwork and tests knowledge while information is still fresh. Students also have the opportunity of one exemption, motivating us to work towards the requirements to receive it and saving at least one borderline grade.

Yet there still is a lingering feeling of stress. Just look into any classroom the Monday before finals. One solution to help the finals stress would be to change the weight of finals to 10 percent. This would allow the exam to be weighed similarly as any other test yet not have as drastic affect on grades. Another option would be to adopt a system were students could exempt the final if they had a B or better in the course, similar to the final policy of second semester seniors. The policy would reward high-achieving students and give the final push during the inevitable end of year slacking.

The goal of final exams is to test how well an individual student comprehends the material throughout the semester. It makes me wonder why it is so important to give students this big of a test that could ruin all the work put in up to that point; isn’t the grade achieved a measure of a student’s comprehension? Finals are truly stressful part in any high school student’s life but they will not go away. When the majority of students continue onto college, we will be forced to sit down after a late night cram session and take the test. This is a skill that LT can prepare us for even if it is only weighed 10 percent. So remember: study in advance, take a breath and remember that winter break comes right after the period 8 final.