For many years, students were tested on how much information they absorbed throughout the year based on midterms and finals. These tests were created by their teachers, so they ranged from school to school, class to class. Starting two years ago, the government decided to introduce a new form of testing, known as the End Of Course exams, also known as the EOCs. They are computer based tests, and students are given the majority of the day to complete them. There are varying opinions about them, because some students prefer midterms and finals, while others prefer the EOCs.

“I prefer EOCs because it is one test at the end of the year instead of two, and it is more general rather than the teacher making the tests. With EOCs, everybody takes the same EOC,” said sophomore Alexa Alcalay.

“[EOCs] because it doesn’t affect your final grade, and it tells you if you actually learned anything in the class,” said sophomore Kassandra Barreiro.

However, there are students that share my opinion of the midterms and finals being a better form of testing. “If you don’t pass the EOC, you have to retake the class. With midterms and finals, you can get more help from the teacher,” said freshman Aliyah Gonzalez.

“I prefer midterms and finals versus EOCs because the teacher is able to make the test. They get to test you on the material that THEY teach,” said freshman Sabrina Ochoa, who took the Biology EOC Assessment and will be taking the Geometry EOC Assessment.

Personally, I believe that is is extremely unfair that one test determines whether or not you fail or pass the class. You could get straight As all year in the class, but if you fail the EOC, that all becomes irrelevant. However there are some EOCs, such as US History EOC, which is  worth 30% of the class grade (which does impact your grade but it doesn’t determine your fate).