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Photo Credit: Aiken County Public Schools website
For the 2020 school year, Aiken County has decided to not administer semester exams. Davis Neal, a sophomore at North Augusta High School, stated that “It relieves a lot of possible stress that could’ve happened since we didn’t have the same learning environment.” Ella Traxler, also a sophomore at North Augusta High School, agrees with Neal, saying, “I am glad that there are no semester exams because for part of the year, we were doing virtual work.” Neal and Traxler are not the only students who feel relived about no semester exams. Neal explains more, saying, “I think throughout the school the feeling is relief because of the stress that has been taken off our shoulders.” Even teachers at North Augusta High School agree that this year was not the best for semester exams. Mrs. April Koonce, an English teacher at North Augusta High School, said, “personally I think the decision to remove the mandate for semester exams was the right decision. Teachers have not had enough time to adequately cover all material. The schedules keep changing which has also impacted student learning.”
Students Neal and Traxler agreed that not having semester exams would benefit their grade. Traxler said, “I think that this will help my grade since I am not having to remember information from the beginning of the year to take the exam.” Neal agreed saying, “I think it will help my grade because if I happen to do poorly then it won’t drop my grade as much as an exam would.” Teachers also agree that semester exams don’t really benefit them. Mrs. Koonce said, “I don't think semester exams really benefit the students. I think the exams provide a new level of stress for some students. Some students never study or put forth effort in preparing for exams. However, conscientious students who have worked hard all semester are now concerned that one test will make such an impact on their exams.”
However, exams can be seen as beneficial because they make students study and know the material. Neal echoes that statement, stating, “I think they definitely help us review and I think that the teachers should still review so that final exams won’t be as much of a load to study.” Even Traxler agrees they're beneficial saying, “I think having to study for the exams would help overall since we are studying to remember that information.” Some people, however, believe exams don’t benefit students. Mrs. Koonce stated, “I have always struggled with the semester exam. I feel that we sufficiently cover the material all semester and we evaluate at the end of each unit. Therefore, I think the use of a semester exam is just redundant. We are testing them on material we have already tested on previously.
Even though we will not be having semester exams this year, the teachers at North Augusta High School will still be teaching the same as if they were and making sure students still get the information they need for the course. Mrs. Koonce said, “I will not really change any of my teaching because there isn't a semester exam. I will keep teaching in my normal fashion to prepare students to be successful after my class.” Mrs. Koonce also stated, “I do not think semester exams alter student learnings. Students have learned all semester. One exam doesn't exponentially increase student knowledge.” It’s good to know North Augusta High School students will get the same education and information, if not more, as they would have with the implementation of semester exams.
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