Exam stress: Is it needed?

Every year organisations such as mental health charities and teaching unions publish statistics around mental health increasing due to exam stress, and this year is no different. With a return from 2020's CAGs (centre assed grades) and 2021's TAGs (teacher assessed grades) to 'real' exams, 82 per cent of heads have now reported that stress and anxiety are higher than before 2020, according to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders. Considering the renewed focus on increasing awareness around mental illness following the pandemic, does it seem as though continuing with the old exam system is counterproductive?

We ask Harris Sixth Form students their opinion.

What are your thoughts on the suitability of exams?

Weaam: I feel like exams are a good way to test everyone's knowledge. This is because everyone has the same questions, meaning it is a fair way to test how much students know. However, since the lockdown happened, I do not think it is fair that we continue doing exams as we have missed plenty of preparation.

How do you feel about your upcoming exams?

Weaam: Most of us have not experienced exams in an exam hall making it harder and scarier for us in sixth form. I also believe that sixth form is more content based, and you have to revise more but since we do not have that experience from GCSE it will be harder for us

Having experienced TAGs and knowing it will be different this year, what are your thoughts?

Weaam: Last year our grades were assessed by teachers (TAGs). We had exams but teachers could use previous grades to determine our deserved grade. It was also less stressful as we knew the topics that would come up and our exams were in classrooms. For our A-levels it would be nice to know the topics that will be on the exam to at least be able to revise the right thing as A-levels are very content heavy.

Aisha: I had exams this week and it was really stressful, however, for Media I was confident as we did lots of revision sessions with our teacher. If I could have this for A-levels, then it would be very helpful as I can go through more content with the teacher and make it easier for my personal revision.

Sharon Njanjo had this to say:

Although exams are a great way to put your knowledge to the test and reflect on your understanding, in my opinion they aren’t that relevant anymore. Formal examinations cause stress, anxiety and if you think about it, they are short-term pressure that puts long-term memory and knowledge to the test. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that formal examinations shouldn’t be relied on as the 2021 year 11 grades relied on TAG’s (teacher assessed grades), meaning that teachers actually took the role of examiners as they’re predictions determined the grades of the previous year 11 students.

Earlier this year Michael Gove said to The Independent, “GCSE critics do not understand value of exams”, indicating that he thinks exams hold so much value when actually, I think they don't. To me it just seems like a big memory test. Looking closely at English Literature, the book that is studied by students at GCSE isn’t allowed in the exam room. Whereas, at A level it is. This proves that the value what is examined is inconsistent and essentially grades are determined on someone’s memory in high pressured, timed conditions.

I also feel like exams have made school become an environment that is all about getting the best grades, rather than learning. This is because everything that is taught in school is designed to end up in either GCSE or A-level examinations at the end of the year. To think of it, there isn’t a logical way to test the whole school curriculum in 2-3 exams, which can only have a selection of topics on there.

Also, exams can be seen as quite pointless for long term learning and reflection. Unlike coursework, formal examinations can’t be adapted or changed; once they are done, they are done and you can’t really make any changes. Whereas, with coursework you can go back and change certain things which to me highlights the practicality of coursework as opposed to formal exams

My final thought is that depending on what you study, you shouldn’t have to undergo stressful examinations. Students that take CTECs and BTECs realistically should have the two years of sixth form/college fully coursework based but, students that take A-levels should undergo exams but with multiple opportunities to redo the exams if they don’t get it right the first time.