In order to provide accurate and honest final grade results for their students, teachers choose the most appropriate form of testing for their students in accordance with the subject matter.
Pressure and procrastination are rising amongst many students as the year comes to a close.
Some students believe that a final project, instead of an exam, reduces the stress surrounding the end of the school year and provides enhanced results.
According to junior David Isasi, a final project is “more relaxing” and laid back than an exam.
“I prefer final projects because they are easier to do and you don’t have to study the night before or cram,” Isasi said.
For sophomore Calista Quigley, final projects “also reduce stress because, for the final test, everyone crams to study.”
As for students putting off working on final grades, English teacher Krysten Momsen believes that procrastination will always be present, no matter the format of the final.
“I feel that even with a final project, there are students who still procrastinate and don’t take advantage of the time or resources,” Momsen said. “The procrastination remains consistent, no matter if it is a final exam or a final project.”
Some of the classes offered at the school require both a final project and an exam for their closing grade.
For social studies teacher Josh Myers, he said that giving both proves to be more beneficial for the students because “it demonstrates different skills.”
“I think the exam is important because it forces [the students] to study and prepare for something which is a real-world application,” Myers said.
Myers also said a project is valuable to students because it “demonstrates their knowledge through the project and gives them time to prepare with full access to resources.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum, some believe that a final exam is more suitable.
According to math teacher Janet Grippi, the subject of math itself leads to “more of a question-and-answer-based response with a variety of topics rather than a final project.”
As for Grippi, by providing an exam to her students rather than a project, she can maximize the number of topics and questions provided to her students.
“I think an exam gives you the chance to have more of a variety of questions,” Grippi said. “If I were to give a project, there would only be a couple of math topics on there. But with an exam, I could give 20 different topics because there are a lot more questions.”
Both students and teachers recognize that a potential disadvantage of a final project is the time consumption for the grading process.
Isasi recognizes the lengths that his teachers go through to grade a project in a timely manner.
“Exams are definitely beneficial for the teachers because they are easier and faster for the teachers to grade,” Isasi said.
Myers agrees, but believes that going the extra mile for his students is worth it.
“Although projects are more time-consuming to grade, it is worth it for the kids and for the teachers to reflect on how well we did teaching the content and skills required for our class,” Myers said.