I remember being a student, and it always took me longer to finish tests than most of my classmates. Even though I knew the material better than many, I just needed more time. By the time I got to high school, I was given a separate room to start my tests because the teachers knew I’d take longer.
As a teacher, I hated enforcing time limits. I felt bad for students who couldn’t finish in time, and the ones who finished early often got restless and started distracting others. It was a constant battle trying to keep them quiet while their classmates were still working.
I don’t think these time limits teach anything valuable. In the real world, I can complete my job tasks faster than grading or writing papers, but it took me much longer when I was a student. Time constraints in school don’t seem to reflect how the world works outside of it.
When we assign tests during class, teachers either make them short enough to prevent early finishers from disrupting the class, or they make them long enough that slow finishers miss lunch or their next class. There has to be a better way.
What I’m proposing is a dedicated room and time slot at the end of the day just for tests and quizzes. Students who finish early can go to the gym or library, and students who need more time can stay after school without missing important classes or activities. This way, we won’t have to deal with all the chaos caused by students finishing at different times.
If the room isn’t used for tests, it could even be a physical education time slot. Missing a PE class isn’t as big of a deal as missing a core subject, and those medically exempt from PE could go to the library.
So, forum members, what do you think? Is this a good idea, or am I overlooking something?
Part of the point of timed tests is the time limit. For bigger exams like the SAT, you can’t just take extra time. If teachers want to give students more time for regular tests, they can let them stay for a few minutes after class. They might miss some of the next class, but that’s usually okay. It’s less hassle than having a whole separate slot just for tests. And if a student has special needs, there are already accommodations in place for that.
@Smart
Are you saying AP tests or the SAT don’t have exceptions for special needs? I’m from Canada, so I’m not familiar, but it seems unfair if only some students get extra time based on formal qualifications. What about students who just need a bit more time but don’t meet the official criteria?
@EmilyWilson
For standardized tests, there are specific rules, but in normal classroom settings, teachers have more freedom to give extra time. Some even hold the whole class late if needed. In my opinion, tests don’t reflect the real world as much as projects do, so I try to focus on that in my teaching.
@Lucky
It should happen more often. I found it frustrating when teachers constantly reminded students about assignments instead of letting them deal with the consequences of their own forgetfulness. We should teach students to be responsible without spoon-feeding them.
What you’re asking for sounds a lot like study hall, which some schools already have. But scheduling it at the end of the day would cause issues with buses, sports, clubs, and other after-school activities. If students are always running out of time, it might be better to look into why that’s happening rather than adding more time.
Parents often try to get time extensions for their kids during big tests like the SAT to boost their scores. It’s not always fair, but that’s how it works.
Jason said:
Parents often try to get time extensions for their kids during big tests like the SAT to boost their scores. It’s not always fair, but that’s how it works.
It makes me question if these time limits really prepare students for the real world. I didn’t see the same issues with time management once I was working outside of school.
@EmilyWilson
In my field, speed is essential. If you can’t deliver quickly, it costs a lot of money. Time pressure is definitely something students need to learn.
Jason said: @EmilyWilson
In my field, speed is essential. If you can’t deliver quickly, it costs a lot of money. Time pressure is definitely something students need to learn.
Then why not leave speed training to degree programs that need it? Not every career demands quick thinking or problem-solving under pressure.
Our district has something similar to what you’re suggesting. There’s a 30-minute study hall built into the day at different times for different schools. My kids either use that time to finish assignments or work on new projects. It gives students a chance to catch up without missing important class time, and as a parent, it’s convenient for scheduling appointments during school hours without disrupting too much.
@NomadNerd
I like that idea, but I’m concerned about students leaving the test room and getting answers from their classmates before coming back to finish. My suggestion for the end-of-day slot would avoid that since students would finish the test in one go.
NomadNerd said: @EmilyWilson
I get that, but honestly, most students don’t care enough to cheat. And if they do, at least they’re learning something in the process.
That doesn’t seem fair to students who are too honest to cheat. Plus, memorizing answers from someone else doesn’t really help them learn anything, especially if it’s just copying an essay for an English or history test.
Deadlines are a big part of life. Schools teach responsibility and time management, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Letting students off the hook with no time limits isn’t helping them.