With midterm exam season just recently passing, the familiar exam cramming stressors made a return for many.

As the semester came to a close and grades were getting finalized, stress levels– for both students and teachers alike– were at an all-time high. To alleviate this unnecessary stress, exams should be optional to students already passing their classes.

Neighboring school districts, such as Rochester schools, already offer this alternative option. By doing this, it can help to eliminate anxieties that come with exams and offer a reward for students if they did well during the semester. This option also opens up a potential gateway for students to actively complete their work, participate in class and be in school so the final exam can be avoided.

Especially with things like jobs and extracurricular activities in the mix, a student already may have enough on their plate. Juggling six classes and their allotted exams would only add more onto the accumulating pressure they may already be feeling. Survey results show that 64 percent of students worry that their exam stress is negatively affecting their grades and academic performance, according to The Daily Universe. 

The final weeks leading up to exams are arguably the most stressful for everyone in the building. Alongside students, teachers’ thoughts and feelings should be taken into account as well. Validating a teacher’s perspective on exams is crucial, as many of them make the exam from scratch and the majority have to grade hundreds of exams themselves.

Eighty one percent of teachers believe that students spend too much time taking mandated tests, where sixteen percent believe it is just right and a mere one percent think it is too little, according to The Grade Network. 

Some may argue exams truly test a student’s knowledge and understanding of the subjects they are learning. While this is a reasonable thing to consider, students already demonstrate their learning skills in the classroom everyday throughout the quarters. Either on homework assignments or quizzes, many can efficiently demonstrate and exercise their understanding in class alone.

Some light needs to be shone on this much-needed change. Something as achievable would not only benefit the majority involved but could potentially even encourage students to try their absolute best in their academics.