Hinsdale Central students use Exam Jam to study for finals

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Hinsdale Central students study for first-semester final exams Jan. 17-19 during a Jan. 12 Exam Jam in the school’s library. | Chuck Fieldman~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:25AM

Jordan Andrew used Exam Jam at Hinsdale Central in hopes of avoiding a repeat performance from a year ago on his final exams.

The Hinsdale sophomore was one of about 180 Central students who took advantage of Exam Jam, which offered use of the school’s library, student tutors and snacks from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Jan. 11-12 to help interested students prepare for first-semester final exams scheduled for Jan. 17-19.

“I’m here because I have to study for finals,” Andrew said. “I didn’t study last year and didn’t do so well. I thought I would come here to get it done.”

Andrew’s friend, freshman Augie Kuncas, said he took advantage of Exam Jam because the Central library offered a better environment for studying.

“At my house, it isn’t very peaceful, and I wanted to study for finals,” he said. “I think having this (Exam Jam) is a very good idea because it give students a good place to study for finals after school.”

This is the second year for Exam Jam, which is a collaborative effort between the library and the PE, health and driver education department, said Kathy Krepps, the school’s library director.

Exam Jam offers the library’s resources after school for two days and has students who are members of the National Honor Society available as tutors. The library normally is not open after school.

“I think this is a good idea, but not enough kids take advantage of it,” said senior Jaya Agnihotri, a Central senior who was available to tutor students needing help in biology and French. “Having this is good because it can be more collaborative here, instead of just studying by yourself at home.”

Lydia Zoells, a senior who was available to tutor other students in English and chemistry, also said Exam Jam was a good idea.

“It’s good to have some help available because a lot of the students who are studying have questions,” she said. “The library is a quiet place, so it can be easier to study here.”

Doing well on final exams seems to be a priority to many students, who agreed that they feel pressure to succeed, academically.

“People lose a lot of sleep around finals,” Agnihotri said. “Teachers really stress finals.”

Several students said final exams are important because they account for 20 percent of the semester grade in each class.

“Freshman year, I studied everyday over winter break because I was really scared about finals,” Zoells said. “I haven’t done that since then, though, because it’s not necessary. Doing that makes break stressful. It makes break not really a break.”

Freshmen Stephanie Herron and Rachel Thompson both said they were a bit nervous about taking final exams for the first time as high school students.

“It’s important to do well, so it is a little stressful,” Thompson said. “I came to the library because I thought it would be easier to pay attention.”

Herron also chose Exam Jam at the library because she thought it offered a better place to study for finals.

“I’m glad they have this because houses are so stressful and not a good place to study,” she said. “Finals are very important because they impact your grades so much. You can lose an ‘A’ just by getting a ‘B’ on your final, even if you have an ‘A’ going into the final.

“It’s all about the grade. Counselors tell us to calculate what we need to get in each class on our finals and plan the time we spend studying based on that.”