Following a week (or two) of midterms and stressful students in college, perhaps we need to ask ourselves why these benchmark exams and projects are needed
Midterm examinations are a common component of college courses and while they can be stressful for students, they serve a crucial function in the learning process. But what is the necessity and what are their benefits for both students and instructors?
Opinions on Midterms
Brandon: “I don’t think they’re necessary. They test on memorization of lectures. I don’t think they are a real testament to how much students know because everyone can study so much and still get a bad grade, and some people don’t study at all and get better grades. I think a better alternative would be an open-book exam.”
Abbie: “I don’t believe they are necessary, but they could be useful for seeing how the professor structures their exams. Midterms are supposed to test students’ knowledge on the material that they’re learning. If the exam is structured correctly, it could be a testament to what students know, but at times, I feel like professors don’t structure their exams as well. A good alternative could be an open discussion in class so that everyone can input their knowledge on the topic or have an exam that’s fill-in-the-blank but not graded so it doesn’t add pressure to students about their grade.”
Nina: “Abolish exams (I’m biased bc I’m a bad tester). Essay exams show more skills and knowledge of student due to them attempting to weave in outside connections from within the class as well as their general skill in writing an essay and grammar and such.”
Midterms as a Checkpoint
One of the primary reasons midterms are necessary is that they provide a valuable checkpoint for assessing student learning and understanding. Midterms allow both students and instructors to measure how effectively the material is being absorbed and retained, and they can serve as an early warning system if a student is falling behind.
This feedback is critical because it allows adjustments to be made before the final exam. Students can use midterm results to identify areas where they need to focus their study efforts, and instructors can use them to identify areas where their teaching methods may need to be modified.
Midterms for Effective Study Habits
Another important reason midterms are necessary is that they encourage students to develop and refine effective study habits. The pressure of an upcoming exam often motivates students to engage with the material more deeply and to experiment with different study techniques. This process of trial and error can be valuable, as it helps students identify the best study strategies for them.
Various study strategies that can be particularly helpful in preparing for midterms are starting early, spacing out study sessions, forming study groups and engaging in active learning techniques like self-testing and problem-solving.
One student interviewed for the study even suggested that open-book exams could be a better alternative to traditional closed-book midterms, as they encourage students to focus on understanding the material rather than simply memorizing it.
Midterms as a Measure of Academic Progress
Midterms also play a vital role in evaluating student performance and determining grades. While the weight of midterms can vary depending on the course and instructor, they typically represent a significant portion of the final grade. This means that students must pay attention to midterms and treat them as practice runs for the final exam.
A strong midterm performance can provide a valuable cushion for the final grade, while a poor performance can necessitate significant improvement in subsequent assessments to achieve the desired grade.
Students must understand the weighting of midterms in each of their courses, as this can impact the overall effort and study time they dedicate to preparing for these exams. This information is usually available in the course syllabus.
Conclusion
Midterms are a necessary component of the college experience because they:
- Provide a valuable opportunity to assess student understanding and identify areas for improvement.
- Encourage students to develop and refine effective study habits.
- Contribute significantly to the evaluation of student performance and the determination of grades.
While midterms can be a source of stress, they ultimately serve to enhance the learning process and prepare students for success in their college courses and beyond.