CFNN Reporter Ashlynn Spell

It has reached that time of year where all students will take the fall Final Exams. Some of these will be Teacher-Made Finals and some will be End of Course (EOC) Exams. Teachers have been preparing students all semester so they will be able to pass their exams. 

Cape Fear will begin testing on December 13th. The last exam day will be Monday, December 18th, and make-up testing the following day. We feel our students are ready to do their best and demonstrate everything they have learned.

“These exams evaluate students’ understanding of the material taught throughout the year. It helps teachers and the state determine how well students have grasped the content and whether they meet the standards set by the state,” said Cape Fear Testing Coordinator Alicia Copeland. “It’s a way for students to demonstrate to themselves, teachers, and family the effort and dedication they’ve put into their education. It’s an opportunity for students to show off and let their teachers know that all the assignments, homework, projects, etc. paid off.”

The teachers at Cape Fear are also required to attend EOC test training. The purpose of this training is to educate teachers on how testing should be conducted, along with proper test security measures and other procedures that ensure the correct administration of tests is followed. 

Some of the policies and procedures that are useful for parents and students to know during exams are:

• Students are not allowed to roam the halls during testing or be allowed to go to other classrooms while testing is still in progress. 
• ALL cell phones, smartwatches, and Bluetooth devices must be turned off and given to the teacher during testing. Students can receive their phones back when ALL TESTING IS COMPLETE. This applies to all classrooms. 
• Students will eat lunch in their classrooms. Teachers will escort their classes to the cafeteria and back to class. 
•  After each exam, students will go to their next period for one final review. 

In-School EOC Remediation will start the week of Dec 4th-8th. This gives students a little extra help and some final assistance they need before their finals. Teachers have already started reviewing and preparing for the upcoming exams.

“Preparation for success starts now! Teachers are starting to work on review for the exam, so the best way to prepare is to show up to school for the rest of the semester and be active in the review,” Copeland said. “There will be opportunities for remediation during and after school. Every second counts and every student should take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.” 

All teachers are required to administer a final exam for non-state-tested subjects. If your course is performance-based, teachers may use the final performance as a final exam. Final exams are 20% of students’ grades. Students who do not take the teacher-made exam will receive a 0. 

ALL students have the opportunity to be exempt from teacher-made exams if they meet the proper criteria. Students must have 4 or fewer unexcused absences and a cumulative average of 90% by the 4th quarter progress report (December 6th). 

As we face the upcoming exams, let’s embrace the challenge, stay focused, and remember that every question is a step towards our success. Exams are just a way to test our knowledge, but remember to always try your best and give it your all. We hope all students have a successful testing week!