By Alexandra Oliveira – Staff Reporter

Currently, students at Jonathan Law High School are limited to two retakes per quarter. This policy is meant to give students a chance to improve their grades on assessments like quizzes, tests, and papers. High school classes become more challenging every year, however, and many students need more than just two opportunities to show they understand the material. To better support student success, the number of retakes should be increased.

The number of retakes per quarter should be increased to three or four. This change would give students a more realistic chance to learn from their mistakes and demonstrate that they truly understand the content. Learning does not always happen perfectly the first time, and school policies should reflect that.

More retakes help students learn better. When students have more chances to try again after reviewing feedback, they are more likely to understand and remember the material. Interviews with several Law students showed that when students were allowed to retake tests, they generally felt better about how well they understood the material, how much control they had over their learning, and their grades. Retakes give them the opportunity to correct errors, revisit difficult concepts, and improve their skills. This leads to stronger long-term understanding, not just a temporary grade boost.

In addition, more retakes can lower stress about grades. Many sources suggest retakes have a positive impact on high schoolers’ anxiety levels. Students often feel pressure to do well the first time, which makes it harder to learn. More retakes can ease this pressure, helping students focus better. 

Some may worry that more retakes will give teachers too much work. However, this can be managed by limiting retakes to certain assignments or offering them at specific times. This way, teachers won’t be overwhelmed. Allowing three to four retakes per quarter is a good balance. It gives students enough chances to improve without causing too much extra work for the teachers.

Increasing the amount of retakes to three to four per quarter would create a better learning environment for students. By giving students more chances to learn, lowering stress, and helping them understand the material, Law can help its students do better in school.