This semester, I had a difficult class that I was concerned about before even walking in the door. Once I sat down and began to listen to the syllabus, I grew even more concerned— our grade would be determined entirely by four tests and one final. Here's why I was concerned:
I am not a good test taker.
In elementary, middle, and high school, I was a great test taker. I could sit down for a test I had barely studied for and not be nervous at all while taking it.
Once I got to college, however, all of that changed. I remember taking my first college test— I was struck with an overwhelming feeling that THESE tests and THESE grades really mattered— and if I didn't do well on the test, I would never be successful. I could see 300 other students with a pencil to paper, and I started thinking that everyone else knew all of the material better than I did. I thought that they'd be successful, and I wouldn't be.
That's a lot to take in when you're already in tough classes, and as irrational as it may seem, it's an issue that I've come to learn is fairly common.
Test anxiety can seem almost insurmountable when faced with classes that are strictly test-based. I have had to learn several coping mechanisms to get me through test-taking without completely panicking. However, even with these mechanisms, I still have trouble staying calm during a test, and I don't perform my best.
Classes that are strictly test based do not reflect the student's comprehension of material completely, as it only gives you a few opportunities to earn points— and these points can be impacted easily. For me, test anxiety can make it difficult to perform well, but even those without test anxiety can be having a bad day and completely bomb a test based on how their day was going. There are no ways to get those points back, even though they can be impacted by a variety of different factors.
In addition to this, the lack of other assignments restricts a student's ability to learn from his or her mistakes. Many homework platforms allow you to have several tries on a problem, while only deducting a small fraction of the points. This helps with comprehension of the material, as well as preparing them for what may be on an exam. Although homework may seem tedious, getting the chance to learn from my mistakes, as well as being given a larger variety of problem sets, helps me offset any issues I may encounter during an exam.
While it may seem easier for some professors to write five tests and implement a curve, it still does not reflect how well a student has learned the material— it reflects how well a student can take a test. Since test-taking is impacted by so many factors, this method of a 'test-based' class puts many students at a disadvantage before even sitting down.
