Finals Week Across Grades

Come mid-January, finals week hits like a ton of bricks for Stuyvesant students. The pressure of final exams—the last chance to improve one’s grades—is intense for all grades. Upperclassmen must balance finals with college applications and high-commitment extracurriculars, whereas freshmen, who are still learning the ropes of high school, are tasked with learning how to study for higher-level classes. Though the pressure to succeed exists for all, it varies between grades.
Freshman Macy Zhao only has a few finals due to the limited classes available to take freshman year. She explained, “I have honors geometry, Mandarin, and regular geometry finals.” Typically, students might try to find upperclassmen to help them prepare for exams or ask teachers for advice to study in advance. However, Zhao opted not to. “I don’t feel nervous about finals because I know I can cram the night before, so I don’t think about it for now,” she explained. “Most of my teachers teach well, but I already have the study skills for those that don't, so I know I’ll be fine.” To Zhao, a final is no different from any other exam.
Unlike Zhao, sophomore Rafyu Kabir had a system in place ahead of finals week to ensure strong results, one that he developed last year. “The finals from last year, specifically geometry, helped set my expectations for this year’s finals and helped me learn how to study for them,” he explained. Kabir noted the emphasis he places on final exams, particularly due to the effect they have on his final grades. “I’ve kind of been more stressed because my grades can go down and it’s more important this year,” Kabir said. Fortunately, his experience from last year has bolstered his confidence.
Like Kabir, sophomore Asad Patwekar has been implementing his experience from finals week last year, though this hasn’t increased his time spent studying. “The previous finals were really easy, as I didn’t study much and still did well,” Patwekar explained. However, he understands many freshmen should prepare more due to their limited experience. “[Freshmen] should make a long-term plan, compile resources to study for the final, and utilize them,” Patwekar said. He also commented on the benefits finals can have, stating, “Uniform finals should exist because it’s a really good way to bring your grades up and most of them are all multiple choice.” Students should take advantage of uniform finals as an opportunity to improve their semester grades.
Of course, the pressure of high grades and the ability to build an ideal, well-balanced college application increases in junior year. Junior Matthew Ciu thinks these factors will play a role in his approach to studying for finals: “Usually, I study the day before. But personally, I’m a little nervous because of college apps, so I’ll study earlier,” he said. However, the increased preparation and experience from previous finals have helped him. Ciu related, “I feel like finals for every year are different due to subjects, but when I asked upperclassmen for information last year about finals it comforted me a little. The study skills transfer over too.”

Senior Ben Goihman echoed a similar sentiment. “I feel like the previous finals helped me prepare. They usually go well,” Goihmam stated. However, a new challenge has arisen for him: maintaining a high GPA for college applications and increased extracurricular commitments. “I have a lot of finals to take and a lot of things to memorize with not enough time,” Goihman described. With so much on their plates, limited time can make even experienced finals-takers feel the pressure.
Looking at the multiple perspectives and opinions about finals week from students across Stuyvesant, a clear progression of mindset has emerged. The freshmen, new to the school and with no previous experience with finals, may rely on last-minute studying and other cram techniques to get by and pass finals. Sophomores, who have had more experience in finals but lack the same pressure as upperclassmen, take a more logical approach, planning and studying accordingly for their exams. Juniors, who feel the pressure of academic success and looming college preparation, use similar techniques as earlier but may be rushed due to the increased pressure. Seniors, who are experienced in uniform finals, feel a different yet familiar pressure freshmen face: they’re forced to cram due to overbearing extracurricular commitments along with maintaining a high GPA in their difficult classes.
However, one thing remains the same between all grades: their ability to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances and put their best effort into final exams. Although finals may seem like a struggle, getting study strategies or information from peers can help ease stress and make studying easier. It is with this in mind that students move into the second semester, perhaps ready to bring out new study skills for their finals in June.