Cheating in class and on tests continues to be a huge problem in high schools across the nation. Here at HHS midterms and finals are a time that people feel they are at a disadvantage if they have a class earlier in the day. They believe that people in the later classes have an advantage as they can learn some curveball questions that are thrown at them by peppering peers with questions.

However, there is a solution that HHS could do to solve this problem. Make midterms by class instead of by period. For example, the school could stage all English finals one day, all history finals the next, and so on. Instead of doing it period by period.

It would eliminate cheating because all students will take the exam at the same time. Also, it would eliminate the argument that some people get more time to study than others who have the test earlier. Splitting it up this way would create a fair system that is suitable for each student.

It would help an abundance of students in many ways. Another huge problem with midterms and finals at HHS is some students get hurt because of their schedule. One student could have a class like math and science one day. Which are two big classes that require a lot of studying. While another, could have math and gym. This would allow the one student to just focus on math and gain an edge on his peers.

The first day of midterms and finals is always period one exam which is followed by an adjusted full day of classes. Why not have a math exam followed by the rest of the day or a science exam. It would create so much less stress as it allows for more study groups, the ability to focus on just one exam, and more review days.

Furthermore, the fact that seniors who receive A’s in both the third and fourth marking period don’t have to take their finals is a great policy. But, it should be an average of the two grades. If the third marking period grade is a 91 and the fourth marking period is an 89 the seniors do not get exempt. Even though the average is a 90 it still does not count as an exemption.

Also, there should also be an opportunity for seniors to achieve exemption on midterms. Seniors who acquire A’s on their first and second marking period midterms all demonstrate mastery, hard-work, and care. Additionally, students who take a national Advanced Placement exam in May should be exempt from their class final.

A new system and policy for midterms and finals administration is certainly a step in the right direction and long overdue.