Schools are starting to reach the halfway point of their school year, and at that point, they will be greeted by a series of exams, midterms.
The first semester is almost over at Foran and that means the students will soon be tested on what they have learned from the first half of the school year during midterm exams. These tests will be taking place between January 14 to January 17.
“I do find midterms stressful because you have to study for so many tests and different subjects and then take the exams back to back,” says junior Katrina Zukowski.
These tests tend to be very difficult and can end up being a source of stress for various students like Zukowski. Some even tend to have difficulties trying to figure out how to prepare for these assessments.
That is why the teachers within the building do their best to help prepare students for these exams, while also trying to alleviate some of that stress.
But, both teachers and counselors believe that the way a student prepares themselves for these exams depends from person to person on what works best for them.
“All I can do for you is give you suggestions and hope they work for you,” says Alan Stern, a teacher in the science department.
Something Stern suggests students should do though is to start preparing for the exams early and to actively engage with the study materials they are reviewing. This can be done by making a study guide or Quizlet as a student would be actively creating a guide that best fits them.
“If you start early, the better off you will be for midterms,” says Stern
Stephanie Cavanna, a school counselor, thinks that students should create a schedule to follow and prioritize subjects they may need more help with. With a schedule, a student would be able to manage their time better and put themselves into a routine.
Constant studying isn’t going to solve everything though. If one were to constantly study, they are more likely to experience mental fatigue and burnout, ruining their productivity and focus.
“Make sure you are taking care of yourself,” says Cavanna.
Breaks are also important for mental health and doing things that make oneself happy, whether it is playing a sport, music, drawing, or playing games can keep the mind positive and productive.
Everyone has a different style of preparing themselves and midterm tests are not an exception of this. As long as students take them seriously, they should end with successful results.
