As we round out the sixth week of classes, students across campus are preparing to take, or may have already begun taking, midterms in certain major or minor courses.
Although some are exempt from this requirement, those subjected to the dreaded exams might be left wondering if they are necessary.
Traditionally, midterm exams occur in the middle of the semester — any time between the sixth and ninth weeks — to evaluate students’ knowledge and comprehension of a class up to that point.
However, some students are displeased with the structure of the “traditional” midterm. Instead of being tested on nearly two month’s worth of information at once, some prefer taking regular chapter tests to routinely gauge their level of understanding.
Another concern lies within the nature of the requirement. In many cases, even if a student is getting an A in the class, they might still be required to take the exam. For hardworking students who have test anxiety, or have trouble managing the stress of multiple significant exams with such a big impact, taking a midterm can do more harm to their grade than good.
Nevertheless, there can be benefits to mid-semester assessments. While often stress-inducing, midterms can be a better showing of information retention over time, as it forces students to review important material they may have neglected to go over before.
Additionally, students’ performance on midterms can show professors where they might need to adjust the syllabus or their teaching styles to ensure an effective learning experience. If a few people fail a midterm, maybe they just didn’t study. But if a majority of a class struggles, it might be an indication that adjustments to the course are necessary for students to fully grasp the content.
Whether or not a class has a standard midterm exam could be a conversation rather than an obligation. Perhaps, then, it could be up to individual students whether they feel they need additional assessments or a boost to their grades.
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