Return of Final Exams?

[Anonymous]

I heard that MCPS is considering bringing back final exams so that students are better prepared for college. My oldest liked not having finals but now says that it would have helped in college. Wondering if it might be starting at some of the high schools?

[Anonymous]

Isn't that what AP Exams are for?

[Anonymous]

I hope not. High school students are busy enough as is with jobs, academics and extracurriculars. The county already has Progress checks in some classes that are basically finals each quarter and, like PP said, AP exams.

[Anonymous]

They are having end of year tests in some classes. We have weekly quizzes in some classes already.

[Anonymous]

You may have heard about the state-mandated MCAP exams for some subjects being factored into final grades starting with the class of 2027.

[Anonymous]

This is a great idea, but I doubt it's going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You may have heard about the state-mandated MCAP exams for some subjects being factored into final grades starting with the class of 2027.

OP here -- that might be it. I will ask the counselor. Thank you for feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't that what AP Exams are for?

Do all students take them in all subjects? Of course not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't that what AP Exams are for?

Do all students take them in all subjects? Of course not.

If the purpose is to prep for college, it's enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope not. High school students are busy enough as is with jobs, academics and extracurriculars. The county already has Progress checks in some classes that are basically finals each quarter and, like PP said, AP exams.

+1 My kid has so many tests in HS it is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Back when final exams were instilled in mcps curriculum the teachers actually made an effort and taught class, nowadays that is sorely lacking and to have final exams would be disastrous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back when final exams were instilled in mcps curriculum the teachers actually made an effort and taught class, nowadays that is sorely lacking and to have final exams would be disastrous.

Back then, the world and MCPS were different in many fundamental ways that have shaped what and how teachers teach.

For my subject area, the curriculum has shifted away from direct instruction entirely. It’s all inquiry-based learning. A teacher who stands at the front of the room to lecture or demonstrate would certainly be chastised by their department head. If they persisted, they would be placed on review. Students don’t practice with multiple choice anymore, unless they are enrolled in test prep.

The assessments in our curriculum are all writing. Adding a final wouldn’t be as simple as plopping in a 50 item multiple choice exam at the end of semesters. Students would likely be asked to write written responses to multiple prompts. In all fairness, students would need more than one hour to complete this. And teachers would need more than the current one day at the end of the marking period to grade. When my curriculum had finals before there were 30 multiple choice questions on a bubble sheet and one twenty point, single paragraph “BCR”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't that what AP Exams are for?

Yes, exactly. The final is silly and redundant. It also isn't analogous to a final in college since it will span a class that runs from August to June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are having end of year tests in some classes. We have weekly quizzes in some classes already.

True, it should be at the teacher's discretion to test in the way that is most appropriate. They can give 1-2 big quarterly assessments if they feel it's helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back when final exams were instilled in mcps curriculum the teachers actually made an effort and taught class, nowadays that is sorely lacking and to have final exams would be disastrous.

My kids took MCPS finals and their experience was different. The finals were country wide designed for every one to pass. They were often the easiest test of the semester. They did not typically require much study and they usually boosted grades. I am not sure about class time lost since there is not much true class after AP exams end. Also if you had a strong grade going in to the final...the final could be ignored. I believe AP exams are enough.