As high school students, we are constantly being evaluated. From the projects, presentations and tests to the bigger assessments, like the PARCC, SAT and ACT, it seems like school never misses a chance to grade and critique our academic performance.

While it is important to assess students on their progress and what they have learned over the course of time, tests should not define one’s intelligence. On top of that, they certainly do not predict future success. They are important, yes, as they do help teachers see where a student needs to improve. However, it should not be so final in terms of the way students view themselves. A simple number cannot quantify how “smart” a student is, yet here we are, freaking out over raising our averages so the trip to the gradebook is less unpleasant.

In a school where testing is so commonplace, is there just too much of it?

Tests are not going to be completely abolished any time soon; however, I do think they should be handled in a different manner because they put far too much pressure on students.

How many times have you felt as though the test you were about to take would make or break your grade? For countless students, test anxiety is a major factor contributing to their test taking abilities. If you are one of these people, you are certainly not alone. While some suffer from physical symptoms, like shaking or sweating, others may blank out on the exam or develop low self-esteem. So much value is placed upon tests that many students are instilled with the fear of doing poorly, which can ultimately lead them to doing worse than students who have less angst.

One of the major reasons students experience so much stress from tests and quizzes is because they believe their future will be compromised after taking a single test. But, take a moment to think, have you ever heard an adult say, “Man, I wish I could have bumped up my science grade by 3 more points back in my sophomore year of high school?” You probably haven’t. And who talks about their SAT scores once they are done with high school? Hopefully no one. Although it is vital to give your very best effort, a score will not affect you so much long-term.

Students are told that in order to alleviate their stress from school, they must manage their time better. While this does seem viable in theory, it is not entirely practical in reality. PV junior Joanna Connors explained, “I have several hours of homework each night and I feel like I shouldn’t be as stressed out as I am because it’s not good for your mental health.” And in addition to several hours of homework, there may also be several hours of studying.

A specific instance that high school students fall susceptible to is taking three to four assessments in a single day. This is fairly typical. I have experienced my fair share of this throughout my first three years of high school and I am certain that this will not come to a sudden halt any time soon. A student can set aside time to study for a couple tests a few days in advance, but there is always the chance that they will have other assignments that take precedence over those tests if the due dates are the following day. Students may not even be apprised of the fact that they have a test until as little as two days prior to the date. So what is the perfect balance in the world of academia? PV freshman Andre Dabaghian said, “If it (testing) was spread out over the whole week instead of just one day, it would make it less stressful.” This seems to be the ideal solution, but it is not easily attainable.

If I could wave a magic wand to get rid of all of the stress encompassing tests and quizzes at school, I would do it in a heartbeat. Despite this wishful thinking, this is not going to happen any time in the near future. Just keep in mind that a bad test grade isn’t going to hurt you as severely as you think and the number you receive on a standardized test does not establish how well you will do later in life. I only hope that people will see that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that all of this academic stress is a mere dark cloud that will soon dissipate.