Examinations are a tool to test the progress of students throughout the year, but they can induce major stress when they are not spaced out. For instance, having three tests in different subjects back-to-back requires extensive preparation, which takes a toll on students’ health.

“I think that the difficulty in having back to back examinations depends on the classes you take. For instance, having two AP tests back to back is pretty stressful gathering information for one class to another,” said senior Isabel Adamus.

According to the Assessment Training Institute in Portland, teachers are increasingly realizing how tests induce anxiety and are progressively increasing in frequency during each school year. This encourages devastating schedules that undermine effective learning.

Dealing with this stress takes a toll on the most important thing necessary for teenagers: sleep. A teenager is recommended to get around 8-10 hours of sleep daily. However, according to a poll we conducted on our Twitter page, one in five Noles reports getting less than four hours of sleep nightly.  This unsettling statistic undoubtedly takes an effect on the daily functional capabilities of a student. Furthermore, tress can lead to insomnia, which can upset the balance between sleep and wakefulness.

“I have faced a lot of stress when it comes to tests. For example, last week I had three tests in a row. I am usually a person who goes to bed early, this situation led me to sacrificing my sleep time which left me more tired the next day. With this schedule, I end up mentally stressed, which impacts the people I associate with on a daily basis,” said senior Kamini Kabilan.

Many students feel that teachers should be aware of these stressors in order to better organize when they schedule their tests. This allows for a convenience to students as well as teachers in a sense. When there are less worries, then more attention will be provided to the material that students test on.

“I don’t believe that students should have so many tests stacked up in a row. However, the problem remains there being a set times to finish a curriculum. I believe that everything should be taken into consideration to benefit the students,” said teacher Andrea Newhouse.

Even though there are necessary reasons for placing tests on certain days, it is very helpful for students when they are spread throughout the week. This allows them to focus entirely on the material that they are being tested on. This allows for more sleep, therefore maintaining a healthy life.