Final exams have been a long-standing tradition in schools, but many students question whether they are truly necessary. While finals are meant to measure what students have learned, they may not always be the best way to do so.
On one hand, finals can help students review and bring together everything they’ve learned over the semester. They encourage responsibility, time management, and preparation. For some subjects, especially math and science, a cumulative test can show whether a student truly understands key concepts.
However, many students feel that finals create unnecessary stress. “I study for weeks, but I still feel like everything depends on just one test,” freshman Oliver Go said. “Sometimes I understand the material, but I get really anxious during exams and forget things.”
Others believe finals don’t reflect their full effort. “I do all my homework and participate in class, but the final counts so much more than everything else,” sophomore Annalee Adams said , “It doesn’t seem fair.”
Still, not everyone is against finals. “Finals help me bring my grade up,” sophomore Sama Barakat said. “If I didn’t do great earlier, I get one more chance.”
There are alternative ways teachers could assess students, such as projects, presentations, or smaller tests spread throughout the semester. These methods may give a more complete picture of a student’s abilities without the intense pressure of one major exam.
In the end, while finals can be useful, they may not be necessary for every class. “I think finals should be optional or less important, school should come down to one test,” freshman Momoh Naiyoun said.
