There is one thing standing between you and winter break. There’s snow on the ground, lights on the houses, a holiday drink in hand… and a test on your desk. 

This year at Westerville South, there is a new policy in place for midterms. Some teachers are giving exams while others are not. 

Michael Hinze, Principal of Westerville South, explains the schedule for exams. He says “It’s different than it was a few years ago. Students should only have up to three tests per day. The science and math departments are scheduled together. The world language, language arts, and history departments are scheduled together.”

He goes on to mention that certain courses require a district wide midterm. For example, American History I has a district exam, so every Westerville teacher has to pass it out. Other teachers, who are not required by the district, may have taught a unit out of order for the sake of  fluctuating with the unpredictability of Covid, which would result in their decision to modify or remove the test. 

Midterms contain a variety of multiple choice, open response, short answer and/or essay questions, or a project depending on the subject and teacher. Midterms are worth 10% of your final grade. Finals are also worth 10% of your final grade. Grades from each term are worth 20%. If you have a semester course on your schedule, the final exam for that class is worth 20%. 

Princeton Review advises that the best way to study is to start 1-2 weeks before the test. Organize notes by units. Use resources like Quizlet, do extra problems, ask for help from your teacher. Break up the time, stretch, have a snack to maintain energy. Utilize any reviews and cheat sheets your teachers may pass out. 

According to Life Exchange Solutions, when you receive a new piece of information, such as by studying for a test, a new pathway is formed. The more you think or use that neural pathway, the more dominant it becomes. So, the more you revise your study material over and over, the easier it becomes to remember specific things in your work. If you don’t revise, you forget things. 

The School Tutoring Academy states various known advantages of taking midterms in high school including: Students develop a strong understanding of the material of the course covered develop good study habits for the future, develop skills for college midterms and life tests, and it’s easier to succeed the rest of the school year after re-establishing concepts you understand and don’t understand. 

Harper Fullen, senior, thinks that midterms “are irrelevant but they are also traditional. And it prepares you for college because you have to take a midterm and a final. Sometimes those are the only big grades in the class, so it’s good to practice pushing yourself through a lack of motivation.”

Testing is a part of learning and lets students “show what they know” and what they can do. All tests provide information about student learning that help parents and teachers instruct students better and help them succeed. 

Linda Mapes, who teaches CCP Personal Finance, money management, and law, says, “Midterms can definitely boost a student’s grade if they need it. I’ve seen grades move up by a whole letter. If you are already doing well in the class, then they aren’t as important. If you have an A in my Personal Finance class, you drop the final.”

On the other hand, some teachers and students feel that midterms create unnecessary pressure and crowd out other educational priorities. 

According to Very Well Mind, in stressful situations, like before or after an exam, the body releases adrenaline. This hormone helps prepare the body to deal with the situation, commonly referred to as the “fight or flight response.”

Sometimes, the adrenaline rush can be a good thing. It helps prepare you to deal with stressful situations, ensuring that you are alert. 

For some people, the symptoms of anxiety they feel can become so excessive that it makes it difficult, or impossible, to focus on the test. Symptoms like nausea, sweating, and shaking hands can actually make people feel even more nervous, especially if they become preoccupied with test anxiety symptoms. 

Anna Deichert, senior, advises, “Don’t worry too much about the tests. Definitely try, but just look at it as another assignment to complete. And then you can relax and have fun on break.”

Very Well Mind suggests several strategies to prevent or minimize test anxiety. Make sure you are prepared because it will boost your confidence. Confront the negative thoughts like “I didn’t study hard enough” and replace them with “I know the material.” Get enough sleep because it will aid your memory.