As it gets closer to the end of the year the urge for summertime, the beach and no school becomes stronger and stronger.

However, there’s one last obstacle of the year before students get out: exams.

Every class that you take either has a teacher-made exam or a state-made end-of-course exam (EOC) that covers everything that you’ve learned since January.

Stress becomes high and the realization begins to set in that what you once had memorized in January you’ve now pushed to the back of your head to make room for all the other things you had to learn, not only in one class but in four.

Sophomore Jaylan Smith says that this is the most difficult part for him.

“It gets closer to the end of the year and then you have to go back from notes in January and basically relearn that stuff so that you’ll know how to answer the questions about them on the exam,” he said.

Government and Civics teacher Taylor Till says that she’s doing what she can in her classroom to refresh all the forgotten information.

“We do a question of the day about what we learned earlier in the year,” Till said. “My classes do a lot of review games to keep it fun and interesting.”

Junior Amanda Owens explains that resources are her easiest way to get over this struggle of not remembering lessons from earlier in the semester.

“Using my resources: the teacher, websites and rereading notes are the most helpful,” Owens said. “Flashcards help to make the notes shorts and to the point, only hitting the main points.”

Freshman Joshua Hall says that flashcards help him as well.

“Flashcards are what I use to help me study for exam because they’re a lot easier to read than a whole binder of notes,” Hall said

However, the hard part really comes during the exam.

“The hardest part is how long it takes,” Owens said. “Losing focus, having to take breathers and taking time to relax before I get started back.”

Till encourages all the students to just finish strong, no matter how difficult the exam or preparation for the exam may be.

“You’ve come this far in the year so just push through, take deep breaths, stay positive and in the end it will all work out in your favor,” Till said.