Camila Jackson – Final Exam Projects

As finals are coming up, stress levels are rising in students. Students take up to 8 academic courses with loads of information in each. Finals are a test where you have to revisit every subject, every discussion and worksheet to bring back the information that you once memorized but now have (mostly) forgotten. Studying notecards, and rewriting information can help, but it won’t allow you to retain the information for the long run. Instead of just memorizing a single section of the overall content of the semester and taking a quick quiz on it, you have to memorize every piece of information you learned during that semester which can be exhausting and stressful. Students are told to learn from their mistakes, but taking final exam tests can take away from that opportunity. Students learn enough information to pass the test but then forget everything afterward.

Unlike final exams, the expectations and requirements in a project are clear as the teachers can explain the project and the things it entails before allowing the students to begin. On tests, there is no option to ask a question or get reassurance, but on projects, teachers can help you make sure you are following the instructions correctly and understanding the requirements for it. Students then research the topic they were assigned and sometimes learn new and interesting information from it, instead of reviewing every single piece of information they have learned throughout the past 2-3 months for the final exam and showing it on a piece of paper. Projects encourage students to summarize the material in their own way through what they truly understand and take into account. This allows educators to see what their students know and understand instead of basing their knowledge on a piece of paper and its contents.

In my case, I always blank out when handed a test. Even if I’ve studied for that test or quiz for days and understood the topic, I will still always forget a piece of information because of the anxiety I have while answering the questions. For finals, I have an extreme amount of anxiety that greatly affects my score. I always second-guess myself when answering the questions, which can be a problem as there is a specific amount of time one can work on the test before being stopped and being forced to turn it in. Whereas during a project someone’s anxiety can be slightly less stressful and demanding.

When trying to figure out an effective final exam method, to take into account both.

Chase Mong – Final Exam Tests

Finals can be a stressful time for both students and teachers. With so much on the line, it’s important to choose the most effective method for assessing student knowledge and improving their grades. While there are two conventional formats for finals – projects and physical tests, tests are a far superior method for a number of reasons. Firstly, projects are far too time-consuming. They can take weeks or even months to prepare. For students who have other commitments, such as part-time jobs or extracurricular activities, this can be extremely challenging. In contrast, tests usually take up to an hour at best.

This makes them a more convenient and accessible option for students. Secondly, any subject can use tests as a method for finals. History, English, Science, and more can all be tested on paper, which isn’t the same story for project finals. Having a project assigned for Math, for example, isn’t necessarily the most convenient way to judge one’s knowledge of the subject. With tests, students can be assessed on the material they have learned, no matter what subject it is.

Third, physical testing isn’t exactly a complicated concept. Tests prompt you with a question, and it’s the taker’s job to answer. Simple as that! Projects on the other hand may have a very complicated process for achieving the perfect A+. Some people just do not have the creative capacity (myself included) to do a project worth a good chunk of the semester grade. Tests, on the other hand, are more straightforward and require less creative input.

Moreover, research has shown that tests can also be a valuable tool to help students learn. By testing their knowledge, students are forced to recall information from memory, which reinforces the learning process. Test-taking also prepares students for higher education, where exams are a common form of testing. Therefore, test-taking as a method for finals can help students develop important skills that they will need later on.

In conclusion, while projects have their place in the classroom, tests are a far more effective method for finals. They are way less time-consuming, convenient, simple, and necessary for higher education. By using tests as a method for finals, students can improve their grades and develop important skills that will serve them well in the future.