Opinion

Opinion Roundup: Reflecting on the testing schedule now that the spring term has ended

Brailyn Almonte, Violet Au, Anya Basnayake, and Mirabelle Miketa-Garcia • July 11, 2024

The Townsend Harris testing schedule was introduced in the fall of 2018. It consists of three testing weeks: Week A for English, classical languages, and health. Week B for sciences and music. Week C for social studies, mathematics, and art.

With testing experiences being a big part of student life, we talked to various students and a staff member about their opinions on the current testing schedule. Now that the school year has ended, as the school considers changes for the upcoming year, below is how some members of the community currently feel about testing at THHS. Additionally, we introduced the idea of a D week to our respondents. A D week could either be a week with no tests or a week used to spread out the current tests in the ABC schedule. See what everyone had to say below:

“

I think in comparison to other schools, testing weeks (as opposed to to testing days) are much more bearable from a students point of view and helps us not get overwhelmed with too much. A D week would definitely help and be a good way to recharge and not apply any more stress than needed, and a total of four weeks also aligns with the months, meaning that it may be easier to digest a routine if it aligns with the calendar. As someone taking both AP World and Algebra 2, those are two classes many students find rigorous and often we would have tests for these classes in the same week, with a possibility for the same day. It makes it difficult to prepare for and recover from those exams. I feel that although there are scheduling issues, the amount of tests I have is typically fine. Of course, there are some harder weeks, but not everything can be perfect at all times.

— Sophomore Thaseena Anjum

“

I think there are times where it’s really stressful to study for these tests because they do come one after the other with some [tests] ending up falling on the same days. A lot of my tests fall on Thursdays. It is sort of hard for me to study especially because my free period is fourth band, so I don’t have that time to study for my tests. As for the idea of taking one week off, it wouldn’t really work well since our school days have already been cut short. If we don’t have enough testing days, it’ll be harder to boost our grade with only 2-3 tests being given at a time.

— Junior Joyce Shen

“

I think our testing schedule is quite effective. It’s helpful to have the various academic departments at THHS organize the weeks they’ll offer tests. This way students, parents, and educators are all in agreement and know what to expect. A week with no assessments sounds like it could be a nice respite for students. Some students experience test anxiety, and so something like a ‘D week’ could help folks rest in between testing weeks. That said, teachers may need to administer a certain number of assessments to offer students enough opportunities to demonstrate mastery, so it may be a matter of whether or not there’s enough time in the school year to accommodate a ‘D week.’

— Guidance Counselor Ana Patete

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About the Contributors

Brailyn Almonte, Opinion Editor

Brailyn is a junior at Townsend Harris High School. She plans to study law in college and become an attorney one day. She also enjoys reading books, especially fantasy, romance and dystopian texts. Her favorite Classic piece that she has worked on thus far is her opinion piece on the THHS guidance department and their ability to provide various wellness opportunities to students. Her favorite Classic piece written by others is a news article that features a Townsend Harris custodian. She thinks it is sweet for the people who keep our school clean to be recognized for their hard work.

Violet Au, Managing Editor

Violet is a junior at Townsend Harris High School, and she aspires to be a psychotherapist in the future. Her favorite Classic piece she’s ever worked on is her article on an over-reliance on testing at THHS. Her favorite Classic piece made by others is an article titled “Would you date a MAGA supporter? As Trump takes office, survey shows partisan divisions hardening with regard to high school social life” by Bridgette Jeonarine.

Anya Basnayake, Opinion Editor

Anya is a junior at Townsend Harris High School, and plans to pursue a career in law. Outside of journalism, Anya enjoys playing guitar, spending time with friends, and watching movies. Her favorite Classic project she has worked on is an opinion roundup on cultural representation in events at Townsend Harris. In general, her favorite piece on the Classic is a feature article on the gender gap in MAGA and its affect on social life.

Mirabelle Miketa-Garcia, Features Editor

Mirabelle is junior interested in reading and music, and she is working towards a career in law. Her favorite piece she’s written was a deep dive into how much being a legacy and showing demonstrated interest affects college admissions. Her favorite Classic piece made by others is an article called “A special screening of Breaking the News documents the founding of The 19th.”

Katherine Lian, Multimedia Chief

Katherine Lian is a senior at Townsend High School who enjoys taking pictures, dancing, and trying new things. Her favorite memory with The Classic was her trip to Albany with her peers.

Samira Li, Photography Editor

Samira is a senior at Townsend Harris High School. She’s been into photography since joining the Classic and loves to explore new cameras. She enjoys spending time with her friends and exploring new things as they come.