Midterms are coming up soon, and if you’re a freshman wondering about them, this article will explain what you should expect from them and provide a guide to help you with them.
Midterms begin on January 17. Take time during the days leading up to the midterms to study for your classes. The midterms will likely consist of everything you have learned from the start of the year to now, though this will vary depending on the teacher and the class. Midterms are worth 10% of your grade if it’s a year-long class and 20% for a semester-long class, so take your midterms and finals seriously. Every quarter is 20% of your grade or doubled for a semester-long class, finals and midterms are 10% so in total they’re like a fifth grading period.
Your teachers should be providing you with outlines or study guides, so you won’t have any surprises on your exams. Follow these resources closely. A tip for studying is to focus on classes you struggle with, for example, if you are good at math and struggle in world history, then study more in world history than math. The same goes for concepts within a class. For example, if you do well with linear equations in algebra, but struggle with quadratics and polynomials, focus your attention on the latter. There are also online resources like Khan Academy you can use for practice questions.
There are two exams a day with four days of exams in total, each exam block is two hours long with a 20-minute break in between the two exam blocks for that day. Day one (Friday, January 17) is your 1A and 2A classes, day two (Tuesday 1/21) is your 1B and 2B classes, day three (Wednesday, January 22) are your 3A and 4A classes, and day four (Thursday, January 23) are your 3B and 4B classes.
Don’t forget that we have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off on Monday, January 18, so you may want to take the opportunity to use it as an extra study day. The exam dates will be shifted by how many snow days there are between now and January 17. For example, if we have 1 snow day, the midterms will be pushed to start on January 21. If you have a class with no midterm exam first block and wish to leave early or come in later depending on the period, you will have to arrange for your own ride since there is no midday bussing.
The exam days will be the length of an early dismissal. If you get hungry before the break, snacks will be available in the cafeteria during the break so you can eat between exam blocks. During the 20-minute break, after you eat if you eat during the break, I recommend freshening up on your next exam’s material.
