Frustration intensifies among students, as they question class policies on timed assessments.

Timed assessments place restrictive time limits on students, prompting them to be quick and efficient with their work. They have been a long lasting idea since the early 1900s and have quickly evolved into a key structure for students’ academic journey.

Schools have adopted the system as a means of preparing AP students for a test that enforces a strict time limit.

Various traditional classes and honors classes have also incorporated time windows, seeking to build success under pressure, as well as quick decision making for their future.

High schools and colleges are the main levels of education to begin making speed a skill, but middle schools and even some elementary schools have begun including speed into their learning structure.

“It feels like the time limit on AP testing causes more stress rather than helping us,” said Britton Lucas

The College Board, who’s head of AP testing, are the ones who decide that the test should be timed. They claim that an untimed test is unrealistic, and administering millions of students would be intense labor, and very difficult.

While it is true that it would be much harder to give an untimed test, members of the College Board should still reconsider the benefits.

When it comes down to the future of students, sacrifice needs to be made, putting the needs of students over the intense workload untimed testing brings.

Students are rushing, and the quality of their work diminishes, which isn’t an accurate representation of their knowledge. Additionally, their careers will most likely never have a case where they need to write an essay or take a test in 45 minutes.

“What schools are making students do, will never be applicable in our future,” said Shane Roling.

Some students have been able to receive extra time on assessments, by setting up 504 and IEP plans with their counselors. However, these plans only apply to a small group of students who struggle with disabilities that impact their learning, or processing speeds and others who get them to gain an advantage.

The simple removal of timed assessments would make the process of these plans much less complicated and stressful for families, students and counselors.

Although time limits produce quick and efficient thinkers, untimed tests also can build key skills,

giving students room to develop; spiking creativity, allowing time for recognition and the recall of information.

“No one thinks twice about it anymore. It’s a fundamental part of how we learn at school,” said Ryan Gentile, speaking about how common the practice is to the point where nobody questions it anymore.

Many teacher’s curriculum revolves around preparation for AP testing, which means time management is a key skill that most teachers are working on building.

But the negatives far outweigh the positives, as many students struggle with the stress, rushing through their tests and exams. It’s obvious that the system needs revising, it’s just a matter of when schools and teachers decide to change.