Midterms and Benchmarks: why both?

By Kate Sullivan
February 7, 2010
Filed under Opinion & Editorial

I think most students would agree that benchmarks are a pain – especially when the second half of the school year rolls around and we have midterms on top of benchmarks. Is it really necessary to have both benchmarks and midterms?

Benchmarks are used to diagnose students’ strengths and weaknesses in the core classes. They give our teachers a better understanding of what he or she needs to focus on.

I decided to ask students and teachers their opinions on the topic: “Are benchmarks and midterms both necessary?”

Here’s what I got:

• “I feel that benchmarks and midterms help bring some students’ grades up, they might need an extra point or two and I feel that these tests may help them” – Junior Dylan Wheeler.
• “No they are not both necessary, midterms should be before Christmas break that way we don’t forget everything that’s been taught to us”— Senior Matt Houston.
• -“I think we should have one or the other, it’s ridiculous to have both in the same time period” – Junior Elizabeth Goodman.
• “I truly believe that we should either have one or the other during the same marking period; I feel that by having both of these tests we are over testing students, especially the weaker ones” – Mr. Ellis

If you have any input on the topic please feel free to comment.