EOCs and Finals: COVID-19 Edition 
by: Nathalia Davison

    The 2020-2021 school year’s first semester ends on December 18th, 2020. That means that finals and EOCs are here. EOCs will take place from December 1st through December 15th. Finals will take place on Thursday, December 17, and Friday, December 18th. Students who are learning remotely have been going into school to take their EOCs. 
     Learning virtually and remotely has helped and hurt many students this school year. “The biggest disadvantage is being able to communicate with teachers on an everyday basis one on one,” says Palmer Williams, Freshman at Georgia State University. Others have found advantages, like Ajani Henley, “With virtual learning, I have been given more time for tests and classwork.” With COVID-19 affecting this school year, other activities also affect how people are learning and studying as well. “Well it [extracurriculars] does give me less time to study and makes me more tired but it also helps me want to study because when I do my extracurricular activities it takes my mind off the constant strain of work I get from my classes and gives me a break so when I go back to doing my work I’m back at 100%,” Henley continues. The pandemic has changed the way everyone learns and the new stressors students face. 
      During the pandemic, many have been worried about their grades, and finals and or EOCs could help or hurt those grades. Henley also says, “Well I think it [EOCs and finals] should be 10% of your grade because if it [your grade] was 20% and you have an A- that grade could drop to a B+ all because you got a decent grade like an (80 - 85) on the EOC/Finals.” If anyone is worried about their grade, there are a few tips on how to study for it. Williams says, “Space out your learning. Take a little bit of time every day to go over what you’ve learned so it becomes second nature.”
     This year students who are working remotely have to come into school to take their EOCs. Syana Etienne says, “It’s unnecessary. The EOC test program is already online, so the fact that we have to go to school is really just doing a lot. I understand why the school is doing it that way, but I think it’s doing too much.” After the EOCs and finals, students go on Holiday break and start the new semester.
​     The pandemic and school have been stressful for everyone across the country as well as students. Taking time to study and relax is essential for all students, pandemic or not. Students remember to stay calm during tests and they will be over in no time… and if that is not enough motivation a break from school is right around the corner.