Students who opt not to take a Final Exam in any content area will receive the same grade that they earned on their Midterm Exam. Their Midterm grade will then account for 20% of their final grade.
Students who choose to take a Final Exam, but who do not score better than they did on their Midterm exam, their Midterm score will be the lowest grade they can earn on the Final Exam. Their Midterm grade will then account for 20% of their final grade. For students who choose to take the Final Exam and score better than on their Midterm, they will receive the higher of the earned scores on their Report Card. Their Midterm grade will then account for 10% of their final grade and their Final Exam grade for 10% of their final grade.
Below are a few example scenarios. Please review and select the scenario that works best for your situation in each of your courses:
Scenario #1 - If you are confident in your Midterm Exam score and your overall final grade, you may choose to NOT take the Final Exam. In this scenario, your Midterm Exam score will count as 20% of your final grade. (Traditionally counts as 10% of your final grade.)
Scenario #2 - If you would like to improve your overall final grade, you may choose to take the Final Exam. If, after you complete the Final Exam, your score is LOWER than what your Midterm Exam score was, the Final Exam score will NOT COUNT and your Midterm Exam score will count as 20% of your overall Final grade. (Traditionally counts as 10% of your final grade.)
Scenario #3 - If you would like to improve your overall final grade, you may choose to take the Final Exam. If, after you complete the Final Exam, your score is HIGHER than what your Midterm Exam score was, the Final Exam score WILL COUNT. Your Midterm Exam score will count as 10% of your overall grade and your Final Exam Score will count as 10% of your overall grade. (Traditionally, this is how midterm and final exams are calculated.)
Please communicate with your teachers for more information as to the format of their individual exam and let them know if you plan to participate in the final exam or opt out.
2019-2020 Mars Area High School Final Exam Schedule
The following is Mars Area High School’s Final Exam Schedule for the 2019-2020 School Year:
- Wednesday, June 3 — Final Exams offered in all English and World Language courses, including English 9, Adv. English 9, English 10, Adv. English 10, English 11, Adv. English 11, English 12, Adv. English 12, AP Lang., AP Lit., Spanish I-IV, German I-IV and French I-IV.
- Thursday, June 4 — Final Exams offered in all Math and Social Studies courses, including Algebra I, Geometry TE, Geometry, Adv. Geometry, Algebra II TE, Algebra II, Adv. Algebra II, Algebra III, Pre-Calc., Adv. Pre-Calc., Calculus, Adv. Calculus, AP Calculus, Social Studies 9, Social Studies 10, World History, AP Euro and AP U.S. History.
- Friday, June 5 — Final Exams offered in all Science and Elective courses, including Conceptual Biology, Biology, Conceptual Chemistry, Chemistry, Adv. Chemistry, Conceptual Physics, Physics, AP Physics I, AP Physics II, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Anatomy, CHS Speech, Creative Writing, CHS Stats, CHS Econ, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, Business Management, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.
In accordance with the above schedule, if you are choosing to take a Final Exam in more than two (2) courses scheduled for any specific day, please notify Mrs. Rosswog and your guidance counselor, so that we can ensure that you are only taking two (2) Final Exams on any particular day.
All new instruction for all courses will end on Tuesday, June 2. Your final exams will be the only new tasks that you will need to complete between Wednesday, June 3, and Friday, June 5.