Dec. 12 through Dec. 16 marks the week of finals for the 2022 fall semester. Most of the student population has never had to endure finals week as the last time Summer Creek students took exams was the Fall of 2019.

This year, finals only count for 10% of students’ semester grade instead of the usual 20%. Students can exempt two of their fall finals with grades above an 80% and good behavior. However, students cannot exempt themselves from the same final in the fall and in the spring. Seniors, however, are special cases. With good grades and good behavior, they can exempt both two fall semester finals and all of their spring ones.

“One of the keys to final exams is working with your teacher and the final exam review,” said principal Mr. Brent McDonald. “It is critical to know if the final exam is an exam over recent material, a culmination of the entire semester or a project that encapsulates the semester’s learning. Communication with the teacher is critically important to prepare. Please also know that students that are enrolled in an EOC/STAAR tested course (Algebra 1, Biology, US History, English 1, and English 2) must take their Fall semester exam but do not have a final exam in the Spring semester.”

Finals for all classes are broken up by day. Monday and Tuesday are regular, 7-period days. Wednesday is the first day of finals. Third period and seventh period finals are on Wednesday. Second period, fifth period and sixth period finals are on Thursday. First period and fourth period finals are on Friday. Friday is the only day of finals week that students have early release.

“I am not terribly worried for finals week due to my grades,” said junior Chloe Moore. “Because I am in dual credit courses, the only final I have to take is Pre Calculus. Also, finals being worth only 10 percent takes a lot of the pressure off.”

Finals week is a stressful time, but it can be overcome with good preparation and efficient time management.