Written by: Claire Cotie
At the end of September 2025, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) introduced exams and final evaluations on the evaluation days for grade nine and ten students who previously did not need to attend on those days. The WRDSB explained this addition as a way to help students prepare for exams and evaluations in future grades and provide them with methods to demonstrate their learning formally. This change has been met with mixed reactions from staff and students at KCI, as both groups learn to accommodate this change.
Mr. Bowman, a grade ten history teacher at KCI, told The Edge that he “[hasn’t] used final exams in grade ten history for 13 years,” causing him to need to adjust his course to incorporate review into the end of the semester. He stated that he “[doesn’t] oppose having students write exams” as he believes they provide students with necessary skills and “reveal student attendance, efforts, engagement, and more.” But, he also “[doesn’t] see the strong need to evaluate students yet again in this manner in junior grades” as they have already experienced formal tests that give them similar skills.
As well, Leah Cotie, a grade ten student experiencing her first exams this year, explained that she “will miss having a week off to relax before starting semester two” and would rather have a two-year break before beginning exams. She also explained that “the decision was unexpected and out of the blue, and [she] didn’t really have time to process it” before it was implemented at KCI. However, she knows this change will “help [her] feel more prepared in the long run for future grades.”
While being interviewed by The Edge, a grade nine student expressed the “need to learn more effective study habits for the future" and he hopes that the earlier introduction of exams will allow him to do so “before it becomes even more important in the senior grades.” When asked if he believes exams are a fair way of demonstrating his understanding, the student replied by saying, “yes, to a degree.” He believes that, while they provide experience of formal assessments, “not all students excel that way and may be at a disadvantage because of the structure of their summatives.”
When asked if she believes the introduction of grade nine and ten exams will help students, Ms. Gauthier, one of KCI’s guidance counsellors, responded with, “I do think that it’s beneficial for students to have an assessment period outside of regular class time.” She continued to say that there are a variety of formats for assessing students that also provide “some exposure to exams in grades where marks don’t impact post-secondary” and prepare students for grade 11. While most support and study strategies during exams come from teachers, Ms. Gauthier explained that the guidance department is always open for students to receive “insights and specific suggestions tailored to their individual experience.”
When preparing for exams, Ms. Gauthier recommends that students “put some time into your preparation each day. You will learn far more this way than cramming the night before.” She encourages students to try their best and use each exam as a learning opportunity to improve for next time.
If you need support during your exam preparations, KCI staff encourage you to reach out to your teachers, guidance counsellor, or other staff members at KCI. Good luck, Raiders!