It is finals week, and you are sitting in your room trying to cram all your notes into your head. Papers lay scattered across the floor, and you wonder why you decided to torture yourself with studying. In situations like this and when final exam season arrives, many students have asked themselves the question, “What is the point of this?” The Regents exams were first implemented in New York State in 1865, and since then it has been required that each student in New York has to take these tests every year. Regents and standardized tests are not the right way to assess students on their knowledge; instead, a creative project should be used to measure a student’s knowledge on the course. 

Currently, tests are the primary way to see if a student knows the material in the class, but is it an effective way of teaching? Many students struggle to perform well on tests even when they know the material. Freshman Matthew Mignella remarked, “Final exams are an inaccurate way to determine a student’s understanding of a subject. Some students blank out during the test, forgetting everything they have learned, and get a bad grade.” This is not only a frequent occurrence but an annoying one that many students face.

There is also the factor of who the teacher is. Depending on the teacher and his/her teaching style, the class will be prepared differently for exams such as the Regents. For example, if there are three social studies teachers all teaching American History, they may all focus on a different topic and prepare their students in various ways. Teacher one may stick to information that only took place in New York, teacher two may only focus on learning about dates, and teacher three may only look at the bigger picture and not go into much detail about smaller events. This causes a divide of knowledge, and when finals or Regents’ day comes, not all the students are prepared equally. 

Projects, on the other hand, allow students to express themselves creatively. Projects encourage students to engage and interact with the material, which can ultimately help them retain the information better. Presentations and projects not only help students learn, but they can also prepare students for life after school. When students graduate and enter the workforce, they most likely will not have to take exams like the Regents. Projects and other presentations will be the primary focus of not only the job, but also as a formal assessment of those who are either applying or are currently in an occupation. Another benefit that comes from having a creative project instead of a final exam is that it allows the teachers to choose what they wish the project to be in. This teaches students to be creative and independent. Health teacher Jennifer Kramer explained, “I think that both formal assessments and project-based assessments have their time and place in the educational setting. Both can offer an opportunity for the application of knowledge and a deeper connection to the material. I think a combination of both gives a student the skills they need to succeed in their next chapter.”

School should be a place where students, both younger ones and teens, are able to learn and succeed without stress. Exams such as finals and Regents are created in a way that unfairly assesses the students on their knowledge. It can also create an unhealthy amount of stress. Projects would eliminate stress and increase the fun and creativity in the classroom. Teachers should take a chance in allowing their students to be innovative and provide opportunities for their minds to flourish.