When final exam season was in full swing, the exam schedule returned to its traditional format used in previous school years. During the first semester, a new approach had required students to attend school for the entire week, regardless of whether or not they had an exams. Now, the original model — where students only attend school for the days they have a scheduled final — is back in place. Upper school finals took place Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28 with make-up exams on Thursday.
Students were in large groups that combined multiple classes, taking their final exams in spaces such as the library or Zeller Student Center. In the winter, students took their exams in their regular classrooms during the time block assigned to that subject. Attendance was mandatory all week, even for classes without a final exam. While some students found this approach beneficial, others viewed it as inefficient and challenging to manage.
This year was freshman Phoebe Miro’s first year in upper school, so those first semester finals were the first ones she experienced.
“[In semester one] you were kind of in the environment you usually take tests in with all your other peers, which helps people who are normally anxious,” Miro said. “Rather than being with random people you aren’t really comfortable with or know.”
Miro said she hoped the return to the original schedule would offer more independence for students, especially as finals week is a time of high pressure. Being given extra free time would ease her stress, she said in an interview before exams started.
“I think the original schedule will be better because you don’t have to stay and have to do stuff in other classes,” Miro said. “That was very draining for me — having to do other stuff on top of finals.”
Miro said the first semester format added to the workload rather than easing it. Junior Serenity Jones said the requirement to be present for every class led to fatigue, with class periods lasting one hour and 45 minutes.
“The [first semester] schedule was not efficient,” Jones said. “It just wasn’t fun having long classes that don’t need to be over an hour. I’m happy we are switching back.”
Jones said that using class time for non-final activities felt unproductive. Students were expected to participate in regular classwork in some classes, while in others they were able to use the time to study for other subjects.
Junior Alexa Grant has experienced both variations of the final exam schedule. Although many juniors only have a required few finals this semester, Grant still said she was excited to return to the original format.
“There were class periods that were so incredibly long that didn’t need to be,” Grant said. “There are days where I didn’t have to come to school, but I was required to anyway.”
With the return of the traditional finals schedule, students were only required to be on campus during their designated exam times. Grant said this schedule allows for more autonomy and is a more manageable take on an already overwhelming time.
“It gives a lot of agency back to students,” Grant said. “There are days I don’t even have to come, so I can manage myself.”
