Give us students a break please, the world is difficult enough. As if in-class exams, university, jobs, and dealing with family and friends and out of school endeavours isn't EXHAUSTING enough. We're kids for gods sake.
Student - 4 years ago
As experienced from my peers and I who will be writing diplomas in a matter a days, having the diplomas weigh 30% is extremely, extremely relieving, but it also makes sense in my view. Simply because the diploma exams are now worth 30% does not mean my peers and I take them any less seriously or prepare for them with less gruelling hard work. They are still very daunting all the same, whether they are worth 50% or 30%. Rather, the weighting is more fair; our worries are lessened in that our efforts over the course of a semester will not be obliterated due to one test. Sure, some students might get by in class with copying or other trivial means, but in my experience, this behaviour WILL translate to and present itself in the mark achieved in class. Personally, I have had very minimal group projects and have little room to get away with any sort of copying, as most of the class assessments have consisted of written exams. Correct me if I am wrong but I think it is fair to say this applies to most schools. There is only so much copying someone can do. Generally, failure to retain the curriculum will easily present itself when students fail the myriad of in-class assessments. But performing poorly on the diploma is likely to be caused by many other factors apart from ineffective preparation. Such as, let me think, becoming paralyzed with fear at the prospect of one test entirely altering hard earned grades.
Allan - 9 years ago
I highly disagree with this change. The diploma isn't just another exam, it is a representation of how much of the curriculum you retained over the year. Taking a course is pointless if you retain none of the information. It is also designed to put pressure on the students. What good is a worker if they can't perform under pressure? Anxiety isn't some uncorrectable condition that deserves special treatment. It is very much correctable, and emphasis should be put on fixing test anxiety, not bypassing it. It is also a good representation of an individuals ability to prepare for an important day. If a student is unable to prepare themselves to get a good nights sleep before the diploma and as a result fail the diploma, what is there to suggest that they are able to prepare for an important date outside of school? You also need to remember that there is the ability to rewrite the diploma, so if under extreme circumstances you are unable to perform well on that particular day you have a second chance.
maram - 9 years ago
I Think its totally unfair for students who are writing diplomas this semester. I'm sure these students won't be happy with such a decision because government cared about grade 11 students stressing out but forgot about grade 12 students who are experiencing stressful semester.
Average student - 9 years ago
Actually all future grade 12 students should thank the government for never studying again. I was an actual b student who copied my way to an A+ student before the diploma since 30% of my grade was "partner" work and take home assignments. A 30% diploma means I would have stayed an A student and some honest student who was a legit A student would not get into university. Good job in rewarding laziness.
Diana - 9 years ago
As is par for the course with the REGRESSIVE CONServative's THIS only took the usual 10 YEARS to bring to fruition!!! The entire group of them are severely intellectually challenged.
student - 9 years ago
Even though this puts less pressure on students for the finals, I believe its unfair to all other previous graduated high school students. They had to suffer the 50% diplomas and the majority of them even had to stay an extra year to upgrade in order to get the marks to enroll in post-secondary. Speaking from my perspective, I was an overall A student but after the diplomas, my A flunked to an B-, all because of the weight of the test.
Give us students a break please, the world is difficult enough. As if in-class exams, university, jobs, and dealing with family and friends and out of school endeavours isn't EXHAUSTING enough. We're kids for gods sake.
As experienced from my peers and I who will be writing diplomas in a matter a days, having the diplomas weigh 30% is extremely, extremely relieving, but it also makes sense in my view. Simply because the diploma exams are now worth 30% does not mean my peers and I take them any less seriously or prepare for them with less gruelling hard work. They are still very daunting all the same, whether they are worth 50% or 30%. Rather, the weighting is more fair; our worries are lessened in that our efforts over the course of a semester will not be obliterated due to one test. Sure, some students might get by in class with copying or other trivial means, but in my experience, this behaviour WILL translate to and present itself in the mark achieved in class. Personally, I have had very minimal group projects and have little room to get away with any sort of copying, as most of the class assessments have consisted of written exams. Correct me if I am wrong but I think it is fair to say this applies to most schools. There is only so much copying someone can do. Generally, failure to retain the curriculum will easily present itself when students fail the myriad of in-class assessments. But performing poorly on the diploma is likely to be caused by many other factors apart from ineffective preparation. Such as, let me think, becoming paralyzed with fear at the prospect of one test entirely altering hard earned grades.
I highly disagree with this change. The diploma isn't just another exam, it is a representation of how much of the curriculum you retained over the year. Taking a course is pointless if you retain none of the information. It is also designed to put pressure on the students. What good is a worker if they can't perform under pressure? Anxiety isn't some uncorrectable condition that deserves special treatment. It is very much correctable, and emphasis should be put on fixing test anxiety, not bypassing it. It is also a good representation of an individuals ability to prepare for an important day. If a student is unable to prepare themselves to get a good nights sleep before the diploma and as a result fail the diploma, what is there to suggest that they are able to prepare for an important date outside of school? You also need to remember that there is the ability to rewrite the diploma, so if under extreme circumstances you are unable to perform well on that particular day you have a second chance.
I Think its totally unfair for students who are writing diplomas this semester. I'm sure these students won't be happy with such a decision because government cared about grade 11 students stressing out but forgot about grade 12 students who are experiencing stressful semester.
Actually all future grade 12 students should thank the government for never studying again. I was an actual b student who copied my way to an A+ student before the diploma since 30% of my grade was "partner" work and take home assignments. A 30% diploma means I would have stayed an A student and some honest student who was a legit A student would not get into university. Good job in rewarding laziness.
As is par for the course with the REGRESSIVE CONServative's THIS only took the usual 10 YEARS to bring to fruition!!! The entire group of them are severely intellectually challenged.
Even though this puts less pressure on students for the finals, I believe its unfair to all other previous graduated high school students. They had to suffer the 50% diplomas and the majority of them even had to stay an extra year to upgrade in order to get the marks to enroll in post-secondary. Speaking from my perspective, I was an overall A student but after the diplomas, my A flunked to an B-, all because of the weight of the test.