Final exams have long caused discrepancies between students, teachers, and administrators. They consist of seven tests over the span of four days, and are able to make or break a grade for the semester. However, this year following three consecutive snow days, Parkway School District implemented a “hold harmless” approach to high school finals. This strategy intended to create a buffer for students after losing ample studying time.
Hold Harmless finals mean that any test administered as a final can only improve a students grade, per the Parkway Administration. However, any assignment such as a final essay or project can still count towards the student’s final grade as long as it was assigned prior to break.
Similar plans were implemented in the St. Louis area post Covid-19 outbreak in March of 2020. The Parkway School District decided that due to the uncertainty of the pandemic, finals would only help a student’s grade. This also attempted to protect against online cheating that would inevitably occur during an online test.
The main goal of administering finals in the first place is to prepare high school students for college. Almost all four year colleges and universities administer final exams at the end of the semester, as well as midterm tests halfway through the semester. In a poll of the Parkway Central Student Body, 40% say that a regular finals style better prepares students for college. Finals are generally weighted around 10-20% of a student’s grade for the semester, meaning that a good score can bring a grade from a B+ to an A-. Studying for weeks to prepare for a test, while time consuming and stressful for some, builds skills that students need post secondary school.
However, many students point to finals as a negative impact on their mental health. All nighters, combined with the stress of potential grade increases or decreases can cause immense anxiety on top of already present stress. Teachers also have immense pressure to grade several tests and assignments on top of an already stressful week.
The 2024-2025 school year marks the last for Parkway administering finals after winter break, a grievance almost all members of the community have had for years. Finals are moved to before break as of the 2025-2026 school year, a common schedule among St. Louis schools and colleges alike. Alleviating the stress of studying over break will allow students to rest and staff ample time to grade any assignments. It also better aligns with the schedule colleges across the country follow, as most semesters end prior to winter break.
But do final exams genuinely provide the feedback they intend to do? Final exams generally reflect a semester’s worth of learning instead of a singular unit, providing the student with information on whether or not they retained things they learned. However, most students never see the finals they take after the semester, meaning they have no chance to see mistakes. Students only receive a score upon testing, instead of things to improve on. Exams of all sorts provide stress for students, however they are an inevitable part of the high school curriculum.
Learning how to test is an essential skill learned only from testing, and even after one’s school career, time management skills learned can aid in the workforce. While studying for finals, or any test, remember to prioritize sleep, eating nutrient dense foods, and most importantly, don’t stress! You got this.
