Montgomery County Public Schools use three grades in order to calculate the final grade that appears on a student’s transcript. First and second quarter grades account for 37.5 percent of the student’s transcript grade. In addition, exam grades make up 25 percent of a student’s final grade.

    When a student earns an A in both quarters of the semester the student only need a C on the exam in order to   maintain the A average in the class. Also, the lowest grade a student with two A’s can earn on their transcript is a B, even if they fail the final exam.

    So should these students really have to take a final exam?

    “If someone get’s A’s during both quarters, then they most likely do try and are a good student. These people will not get a D on their final exam, they would want to keep an A for their transcript grade. So it’s pointless that we have to take exams if we get two A’s,” sophomore Michael Desole explained.

    Personally, I think students who manage to get A’s in both quarters deserve to skip taking a final, that most likely won’t change their transcript grade.

    Also, sometimes students have the tendency to neglect certain subjects when studying because they know they do not need to try as hard to get a good grade on their transcript.

   “If I know I can get a C, I do not study because I know I understand the information,” junior Tanya Waterton said. “I spend more time studying for exams for classes where I don’t have an A.”

    Although many students do not spend time reviewing for subjects where they only need a C, teachers do have the option to force a student’s grade down to a B, no matter what grade students receive on their final.

   “I know that teachers have the option to change a student’s grade, but I personally just go with the grade chart,” physics teacher Sara Garside stated.

    Some teachers believe that all students should take a final exam, especially students that take AP and IB classes.

   “I use the final to help students train for the AP exam. All students taking higher level courses need to practice for their exams in May,” Spanish teacher Carol Middlebrook said.

    For the most part, students with two A’s should not have to take a final. Obviously, if someone works hard enough to get an A for two quarters, they understand the information being taught.

    The chances of someone getting a low enough grade to change their final grade is very slim. What’s the point of making these students waste two hours if they are most likely going to end up with an A?

    However, students taking AP or IB classes need to take their final. Taking the final for the first semester will definitely help students prepare for their actual exams in May.