Should finals always be final?

At Urbana High, students are taught from freshman to senior year that finals will determine final grades. They are administered seriously and are mandatory. But is that really the way that is best for the students?

Some local high schools, such as Villa Grove, Unity, and Heritage have an alternate final exam policy in which grades and attendance determine whether students must take finals or not. Per Villa Grove’s student handbook:

“Some students may not be required to take semester exams in every class. In order to earn an exemption, the following requirements must be met: The student must have missed fewer than 5 times per class for any reason except school sponsored events (such as college days) which have been pre-approved by Principal; on the 5th absence, exams must be taken. ALL absences in ALL classes must be excused. The student cannot have been suspended, served an in-school detention, or served a Saturday school during the school year for this to apply. The student must also maintain a C average in the class. In some classes, per state requirements an exam must be taken, but teachers will inform students of that early in the semester.”

After looking at this policy, senior Moses Sudibyo sees the benefits. “I think this could show the knowledge that I have already and shows a student’s dedication. It also helps the students who aren’t good test takers,” he said.

English teacher Alyssa Pavlakis has an opposite opinion. “I disagree with the idea that if you have an A, B, or C in this class you don’t have to take the final. Because it’s a test for me to see where to see where you are at in the class in all the standards I am trying to test you on,” she said.

For teacher Taryn Smith, finals are important because they prepare students for college. “I’m actually okay with the way we do finals, because when growing up I didn’t have finals, and when I got into college it was extremely difficult my first semester.”

Still, Sudibyo believes classwork shows a better overall assessment than finals. “This allows if [students] work hard in this class and have good grades in it, I don’t see why they should [have to] take the final test,” he said.

Whether or not the finals policy changes, finals will always be on people’s minds. And always haunt student’s fears.