Gimme a break: Exams changed

Students may soon find relief from what some see as a cramped and strenuous final exam week. Provost Peter Lange recently approved a Duke Student Government proposal by legislator Vik Devisetty to give students a break during the fall 2001 and spring 2002 final exam reading periods.

The extension gives most students an extra day to study in the middle of exam week. For fall 2001, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before exams will be a reading period, as usual. Exams will be held the following Monday and Tuesday.

However, only one exam block-the physics block-will be held on Wednesday. According to Devisetty, this will only affect 10 percent of students, giving most test-takers a break from the constant stress of consecutive exams. Tests will end Saturday afternoon. A similar system will be implemented in Spring 2001.

"We wouldn't add any days to the current calendar," said Devisetty, emphasizing the efficiency of the plan. This is accomplished by condensing some block exams.

For example, since no students simultaneously take a course like Chemistry 11 and a higher-level course in the same subject area, such as Chemistry 151, the testing blocks for these subjects will be placed in the same time slot. This form of condensing has not always been utilized in the past.

Originally, the proposal called for no exams at all on Wednesday. However, this option would have required some students to take tests on a Saturday night, complicating student and faculty schedules. "We chose this option because undergrad students, grad students and faculty agreed that we would prefer not to have a Saturday night exam," Devisetty said.

"We're really excited [about the plan]," said Dr. Judith Ruderman, chair of the University Scheduling Committee and vice provost for Academic Affairs. Ruderman also emphasized that the plan is a pilot project and could be subject to change in subsequent semesters if adverse effects are found.

Ruderman and others hope the extra day will be used by students to better pace their studying and solidify an understanding of course material before later exams. Other changes will be implemented as well to make exam time easier for undergraduates: Parts of the library system will be open 24 hours and dining services will be extended.