By Brayden Haley ’25
It’s that time of year again as midterms are lurking around the corner, set for next week. As a freshman, these tests are new to me, considering that the only big “tests” in the form of MCAS were not graded in the years I have taken them. In my opinion, I don’t feel that I should be worried about them, but some people are just not the same. Sometimes, when I walk down the halls, I hear the occasional person stressing about how it will be a struggle trying to speed memorize notes and information or how if they get a bad grade it would doom them. However, a major tweak in the grading process may change those people’s mindsets heading into the exams.
Like years before, the scheduling of the tests is from the Tuesday of 1/25 to the Friday of 1/28. Each day, two exams will be taken by a student before leaving early just before 12. A and B block classes will be held on Tuesday, E and F for Wednesday, C and D for Thursday, and G and H for Friday, with extra make-up time commencing from 12:30 to 1:30 after lunch. However, grading for the midterms has been modified recently, bringing relief to students across the school. This year, the midterms will only count for a grade if they help improve it after they are factored into the overall grade. If the grades of your midterms do not collaborate and increase your overall grade, they will have no effect. If you do not participate in the exams, you will earn a 0 that will factor into your final grade. The quarter, and ultimately the first semester, end on the 28th, so be sure to get all of your work turned in.
Just because midterms don’t affect your grade if you do poorly, doesn’t mean that you should not try. It can help your teachers find out what they need to teach you or the class as a whole. In fact, these tests are constructed by teachers of its subject so there are no complicated questions no one will know the answer to. I can’t speak for everyone when I say that I am not stressed about these tests, but hopefully with knowledge of this change, other people’s frustration will go away. Good luck to everyone and study hard and well.
