Final Exams
By: Tavian Davis
The year 2020 is ending, and the Cobb County School District school year is reaching the end of its first semester. Whenever a semester is ending, classes have a final exam. The final exam is a lengthy test that covers multiple topics that were taught throughout that semester. The test weighs heavily in the grade book and can have various effects on a students grade. Students at Hillgrove will be taking their final exams on Thursday, December 17 and Friday, December 18.
This current semester has been carried out drastically different than that of a normal one. This is all due to the global pandemic that shut down schools back in March of 2020. The pandemic has changed the way teachers carry out their lessons. The length of this semester was shortened compared normally during the school year. Joshua Brewer, a sophomore at Hillgrove Highschool, says, “I enjoy how the units and lessons have been shorter.” Shorter units mean that tests and quizzes are held more frequently than normal. However, teachers also must rush when teaching lessons in order to include all the content in a shorter amount of time.
At Hillgrove Highschool, there is a final exam exemption option. Tristan Vernet, a student at Hillgrove Highschool, says, “I am not looking forward to finals week because I have a B in a class.” In order to exempt taking a final exam in a class, a student must have a 90 or above as an overall grade. Final exams at Hillgrove are usually lengthy assessments, and they count a large amount towards your grade. If you do terribly on the final, your grade will suffer a lot. However, “If you pass the final, then your grade will go up substantially,” says Kate Maflin, a sophomore at Hillgrove Highschool.
One of the most obvious differences in final exams this semester, is that they are all being taken at home online. There are multiple reasons why these arrangements have been made. So far in the semester some teachers have been conducting tests the same for both online students and face to face students. The main issue is that students at home can easily attain answers to some assessments using the internet, and of course there is little a teacher can do to prevent this. Some students face to face, however, are unable to use the internet to attain correct answers. This is most likely a reason for final exams being held online. Kate continues, “It seems fairer.
With grades looking much different for students than normally, the finals are a turning point. Two days in the week of December 14th have been reserved as final exam days. This is how the first semester of school during this pandemic will be concluded. As of right now it is unknown what the second semester will look like. If Covid-19 cases continue to rise, then it is possible that all students will be taught virtually rather than face to face. If this is the case then the second semester final exams will be online as well.
This current semester has been carried out drastically different than that of a normal one. This is all due to the global pandemic that shut down schools back in March of 2020. The pandemic has changed the way teachers carry out their lessons. The length of this semester was shortened compared normally during the school year. Joshua Brewer, a sophomore at Hillgrove Highschool, says, “I enjoy how the units and lessons have been shorter.” Shorter units mean that tests and quizzes are held more frequently than normal. However, teachers also must rush when teaching lessons in order to include all the content in a shorter amount of time.
At Hillgrove Highschool, there is a final exam exemption option. Tristan Vernet, a student at Hillgrove Highschool, says, “I am not looking forward to finals week because I have a B in a class.” In order to exempt taking a final exam in a class, a student must have a 90 or above as an overall grade. Final exams at Hillgrove are usually lengthy assessments, and they count a large amount towards your grade. If you do terribly on the final, your grade will suffer a lot. However, “If you pass the final, then your grade will go up substantially,” says Kate Maflin, a sophomore at Hillgrove Highschool.
One of the most obvious differences in final exams this semester, is that they are all being taken at home online. There are multiple reasons why these arrangements have been made. So far in the semester some teachers have been conducting tests the same for both online students and face to face students. The main issue is that students at home can easily attain answers to some assessments using the internet, and of course there is little a teacher can do to prevent this. Some students face to face, however, are unable to use the internet to attain correct answers. This is most likely a reason for final exams being held online. Kate continues, “It seems fairer.
With grades looking much different for students than normally, the finals are a turning point. Two days in the week of December 14th have been reserved as final exam days. This is how the first semester of school during this pandemic will be concluded. As of right now it is unknown what the second semester will look like. If Covid-19 cases continue to rise, then it is possible that all students will be taught virtually rather than face to face. If this is the case then the second semester final exams will be online as well.
