Teacher Survey on Semester Exam Schedules

Of all Virginia Beach High School Teacher Responses:

Ø      91% strongly prefer the “old” exam schedule over the “new” schedule;

Ø      62% prefer to have the “old” exam schedule instead of no exams at all;

Ø      74% prefer to have no exams at all rather than have the “new” exam schedule;

Ø      69% think it would be a mistake to eliminate exams for the purpose of adding instructional days;

Ø      82% percent strongly agree that students who pass the SOL (end-of-course) test should not be required to take the semester exam in that course;

Ø      87% strongly agree that students exempt from the exam in a course should not have to attend the exam session.

Recommendations:

1. Restore the “old” exam schedule but keep the present number of instructional days on the calendar. If there is a specific state requirement for additional instructional days, request a waiver.
2. Semester exams should not be eliminated for the purpose of adding instructional days to the calendar.
3. Students who pass the SOL (end-of-course) test should not be required to take the semester exam in that course.
4. Students (particularly seniors) who meet the exemption criteria for a semester exam should not be required to attend the exam session.

Summary of Responses (in percentages) to Survey Questions:

These definitions are used for the purpose of this survey:

·  "OLD" Semester Exam Schedule (prior to Jan '04) consisted of 4 days at the end of each semester with 2 two-hour exams each day. (Students were released early each day at the end of the second exam)

·  "NEW" Semester Exam Schedule (began in Jan '04) consists of 4 days at the end of each semester with 2 one and a half hour exams each day with regular classes before or after exams on most exam days. (Students were only released early on the last exam days)

Responses:

SD Strongly Disagree,  D Disagree  N, Neutral,  A Agree,  SA Strongly Agree

Summary of Responses:

1. Given only a choice of either (1) the NEW or (2) the OLD exam schedule, I would prefer the NEW one:

2. Given only a choice of either (1) OLD exam schedule or (2) NO exams at all, I would prefer NO EXAMS:

3. Given only a choice of either (1) NEW exam schedule or (2) NO exams at all, I would prefer NO EXAMS:

4. Academically, it would be a mistake to eliminate semester exams for the purpose of adding instructional days:

5. Students who pass the SOL end-of-course test should not be required to take the semester exam in that course:

6. Students who are exempt from the exam in a course should not have to come to the exam:

Additional Comments by Teachers Surveyed:

Comment:  The final evaluation provides the motivation to retain and apply what has been covered during the entire course.  Without the final exam, one only needs to understand, retain, and apply what is currently being covered in a class.  
            As for the "new" exam schedule, the atmosphere/attitude among the students was very apathetic and students did not have the feeling of urgency to prepare for, and pass, as they have in the past.  The schedule actually made a mockery of the teacher's attempt to evaluate the students progress for the semester.

Comment:  If high school is a preparation tool for college, it would be an injustice to the students to not give exams.  Exams WILL Be given in college; students should have experience with these types of tests prior to leaving high school.
            However, having students take an exam and then go sit in a classroom and be told to learn new material is also very unfair to the students.  With additional exams to worry about; learning new material seems too much to ask

Comment:  I think the exam schedule should be reverted to the old one if we have to have exams

Comment:  I teach a three semester course, ending with AlgX and the SOL test.  This test comrpises knowledge of 3 semesters.  However, I give an exam which covers, quite properly, only the 4.5 months of subject material I have been teaching.  Thus the SOL test and exam serve different assessment objectives and are not stand alone tests of the students' knowledge.

Comment:  The main concern that I have regarding the "new" exam schedule is that it limits the variety of questions a teacher may use on the exam.  The students need to be writing as much as possible and it is not possible for a short answer or essay question on the current time line.  The turn around time for teacher prohits the use of any type of questions but objective. An addional block of clas here and there does not have the impact the schho board seems to believe.

Comment:  Exams for most kids are a waste of time. The kids should be taught how to take lengthy tests, but scheduling an exam period is not necessary. Most kids (in core classes) neither care how they do on the exam, nor do they study.

Comment:  I hope the results of this survey will be forwarded to each member of the school board and city council. Also to the local newspaper. Thanks.

Comment::  I think we should hsve semester exams, but all half days.

Comment:  It is a mistake to add days in June but not in January.