Here at MRHS, midterms will begin for all students on January 16th. They are one of the primary ways teachers assess learning and are a recurring aspect of American High School education. Midterms, as well as final exams, are a factor that determines a student’s progression through high school, which can affect graduation.
School communities cannot emphasize enough how important they are, and students are encouraged to work hard for great grades.
Midterms matter for multiple reasons, but their main importance for students is to “showcase their academic capabilities and allow students to learn how to prepare for major exams, including regents of final exams,” according to Soraya Masrour from Kaleidoscope on “The necessity of Midterms Exams.”
Given the sheer significance of midterms for American high schools, preparation is key, and the best ways for students to prepare are making a concise study schedule and taking good notes. Other strategies include flashcards, study groups and understanding one’s learning style.
However, the question remains, when is the best time to start studying?
Given that these tests tend to happen around mid-January, the right time to start is a common question.
“It varies depending on the person and how they study, but early January is typically a good time to begin,” asserted Sophomore Michael Rymut.
But regardless of how and when a student studies, exam stress is inevitable for a large majority of pupils, and in fact, standardized tests are one of the most frequent sources of stress for students; One cause of such stress is the inability to fit in time for studying.
“[Midterms are] really stressful for me. I don’t have much time after school..and it’s a lot of time that I put towards midterms. I don’t get to relax until they’re over,” stated Sophomore Adhithya Kasiviswanathan.
But, that is not to say that every student is worried about midterms and finals. Some pupils, like sophomore Nicole Lee, feel no amount of apprehension in regards to the exam.
“[I have] no [anxiety], I know I’m going to get a B in one class and an A in the rest of them,” explained Lee.
In contrast to the variability of student stress levels, The difficulty of midterms is universally recognized among high school students.
“They’re easier than finals, but they’re definitely harder than the rest of the year, mostly [for] the time crunch; With a normal assignment, you have two days, but with the midterm, you get an hour,” claimed Sophomore Jacob Askin.
With midterms approaching, a student must consider their importance, their challenging nature and that preparation is of the essence. Furthermore, the days leading up to them, for countless students, are ridden with unease, and that the best thing a student can do to relieve this tension is to be realistic and come prepared.
Midterm season is a trying time for high schoolers, and MRHS hopes its students receive high grades indicative of their learning.