According to a survey conducted in early December, more than half of middle and high school students say that science is the most difficult midterm, in terms of studying, stress, and the test itself. According to NPR correspondent Adam Frank, “Grades tend to be lower in science and math classes compared with other courses on campus. Research shows that STEM students get ‘pulled away’ by better grades received in courses they take in other fields, as well as getting ‘pushed out’ by lower grades in their majors.” But the question is why? Why do students focus primarily on science, only to conclude that the subject is hard and almost impossible to study?
“I think that science has a lot of complex concepts that take a lot of understanding,” says 11th grader, Hania Hashimi, “versus other subjects, like English, where the topics are subjective. With science, there aren’t any specific rules to follow, instead, you must fully comprehend each subject-and messing up one topic will mess up your understanding of all the others.”
Many students argue that science is extremely understanding-based and that more time is needed than just a 45-minute class to grasp the topics. Also, students allow themselves to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information- without taking the time to understand it.
“In science, we take a lot of notes and there are a lot of specific names to memorize. Not only that, but we must know what the function of everything is, too.” says 9th grader Maryam Khan.
Nonetheless, science is still an extremely fun and interactive subject to study, if you study it right. Understanding the world around you can give you a deeper understanding of your surroundings, and make you appreciate your environment a lot more.
“I think that students come into science class with the mindset that ‘this is difficult,’ so they don’t have a very objective view. When you have a preconceived notion, you allow that to intimidate you for the subject.” says Biology teacher Ms. Rumana Khan. “The best way to study for an exam is definitely to use materials provided by the teacher.”
