As Tests
Begin Tomorrow
Poll Shows Mixed
Results on
Exam-Induced Stress
By Nana Saynieva and Margaret
Lipman (January 22, 2004)
Masonites often face tension,
numerous commitments, deprivation of time and sleep, and academic pressures.
Just how much do the end-of-semester exams factor into all of this?
 |
Based on the findings
of a Lasso Online survey of 133 students, grades 9 –12, it appears that
a significant number of students feel stress about their upcoming midterm
exams, while some others experience little stress.
The students were polled on their
personal opinions concerning stress levels, teacher preparation, studying
habits, stressful classes, and whether midterms are adequate measures of
merit.
Of those who responded to the
poll, 58 were male, 75 female. Sixty-one were freshmen, 25 were sophomores,
14 were juniors and 33 were seniors. |
Seniors Arya Namboodiri, Andrea
Spakaukas,
and Richard Arndt cram for their math exam
in the library. (Photo by Camille Christophel) |
Asked to rate their own stress
level on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being "extremely stressed" and 1 being
"No stress at all" concerning the impending midterm exams, the majority
labeled their stress levels as being above average. Forty-one percent of
students indicated that they had a stress level somewhere between 6 and
8. Interestingly, only 12 percent indicated that they had a stress level
of 9 to 10. The remaining 47 percent were split fairly evenly among stress
levels of 1 through 5.
| The poll also asked
students to rate how well they felt that their teachers were preparing
them for the semester exams, with 10 being "very well" and 1 "not well
at all." The highest percentage, 25 percent, rated their preparation a
5. Only 2 percent responded that their teachers had prepared them well
enough to rate a 9 or 10.
The survey also showed that many
students, regardless of their stress level, had already begun their studying
two weeks before the examination period. Twenty-one percent indicated that
they had already begun studying and 23 percent indicated that they would
be studying for a week before exams. Very few students, 4 percent, admitted
to intending not to study at all or to study only the night before the
exam.
When asked about the classes that
caused them the most stress, 27 percent, the highest percentage, indicated
their science class. Social studies, 22 percent, came in second and electives,
21 percent, third. Math and English seem to be the least stressful exams
to anticipate, with 15 percent noting them.
Lastly, the students were asked
to rate the impact the exams have on their semester grade. The exams count
for 20 percent of the grade with each quarter counting 40 percent. |
 |
International Club secretary Vadym
Onyshchenko
works on filling one of the 143 care packages the
club sold to help reduce stress during exam week as
well as make over $400 to aid refugees.
(Photo by Emir Parrotta) |
Fifty-seven percent indicated that
they feel that that the exams count for too much of the grade. Forty-two
percent indicated that they thought the exams count the correct amount
and only two percent believed that the exams count for too little.
In conclusion, it appears that
the midterms affect the entire student body, though in very different ways.
Perhaps the main conclusion that can be drawn is that it is a good thing
that semester exams only come twice a year.
Tell us what you
think. E-mail lassogmhs@hotmail.com
|
