Exams can be incredibly stressful. All of the course material compiled into one test definitely has that effect on people! Did I prepare enough? Am I sure I’m ready? Will my mark stay the same? Will I live to see tomorrow? These were only a few questions asked by students coming out of their first semester exams. To find out how some grade nines managed their first exams, we interviewed a handful of them and got their opinions.

The first person we interviewed wished to remain anonymous. When asked how their exams went, they replied, “They made my hand tired” which is surely relatable, considering the amount of writing required in such a short span of time. Even though endurance-writing isn’t something you can practice, you can prepare for your exams in more effective ways! This first interviewee’s study rituals involved studying every night before they went to sleep. Their reasoning for this? “It’s really good ‘cause studying is boring and makes you want to go to sleep.” In some ways this does make sense – sleep is known to help with memory retention. According to Harvard Medical School “consolidated sleep throughout a whole night is optimal for learning and memory.” This strategy seemed to work for this grade nine student, who reflected on their exams: “They went well; they were easier than I expected.”

Another student said, “At first I was nervous because this was my first exam after all,” but after their first exam, the student felt that their first exams went well.

In conclusion, first exams can be very stressful for some students as they worry about how the results will affect their final grade. But after the exams were over, many felt a sense of relief. These first exams will pave the way for the rest of their educational careers and will better prepare them for future exams.

By: Caitlin K., Angelica M., & Carolyn W.
02/08/2018