One of the most nerve-wracking events for students in their high school life is definitely exams. At Kent, we used to have exams at the end of each term. “Exams are used to assess what students are able to do,” Dr. MacNeil, Kent’s Academic Dean, explained. “Term exams and yearlong exams help build a cycle of learning, relearning, reviewing, and deepening your learning for each student.” 

This year, however, Kent no longer has term finals; instead, students will have a mid-year final and a year final. The discussion of this idea began last winter, and it involved all academic departments. The Department Chair Committee, led by Dean O’Dwyer, met several times to have discussions on this topic. “We decided that having two administrations of exams rather than three is a way of opening up space for alternative kinds of assessments,” Dr. MacNeil said. For example, teachers of the humanities often prefer essays to test students’ understanding of their course material. Dr MacNeil shared: “We are looking for a way that all the disciplines are feeling good about their regimen of assessment.” 

The mid-year exam will happen in the middle of January, two weeks after Winter Break; this timing would allow students to get back into school mode after the holiday and do the necessary review. At the start of that week, Science, Math, and Language will all have an exam day, but all the other departments – English, History, Religion, and the Visual and Performing Arts – will not.

Arts and Humanities are likely to continue having term assessments such as papers or presentations and these grades will be folded into term grades; however, there will be no exam days for these subjects at the end of fall and winter terms or during the mid-year exam period. “Mid-year exams are only for those departments that find the exam format really valuable as a way of measuring learning,” said Dr. MacNeil. Term-contained courses would not have mid-year exams, but there will likely be an assessment at the end of each term. Students will still have term grades in every class and all the exam grades will be shown clearly on students’ grade reports.

“Since we don’t have finals this fall, just focus on what you are learning now, relax, and do your best,” Dr. MacNeil suggested with a smile.