Face Off: Should students have examinations before, not after, a holiday break?
Each week, two readers discuss a hot topic in a parliamentary-style debate that doesn’t necessarily reflect their personal viewpoints.
Children experience lion dancing in a Lunar New Year fun fair at a shopping centre in Tsuen Wan. Photo: Elson LiIf you are interested in joining future Face Off debates, fill out this form to submit your application.
For: Anson Ng Wai-yan, 13, St Mary’s Canossian College
Imagine getting ready to unwind and enjoy your holiday break from school but with the knowledge that exams loom ahead. Would you burn the midnight oil or take the opportunity to relax?
The answer, inevitably, is the former; revising for exams always remains our top priority. Therefore, schools should schedule exams before holidays, allowing us to truly enjoy our break and time off.
When exams are set after holidays, schoolchildren are forced to revise during their “break”, preventing them from spending time with their family and enjoying festivities.
According to the 2024 Secondary School Students’ Well-Being Survey, only 26.3 per cent of students reported an ideal level of health and happiness. Arranging exams before a break can ease some pressure off students, who deserve adequate time to decompress after weeks of studying hard.
A holiday break without stress and anxiety about coming assessments will also give students the opportunity to discuss challenges they have faced in school and work through negative emotions.
Students will have time to engage in festive activities like visiting Christmas fairs or watching Lunar New Year lion dance performances. These are enriching experiences that benefit anyone, not only students.
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Students find it easier to remember information and recall key concepts when they take exams shortly after being taught. After a break, especially a more extended holiday, retrieving ideas taught to them so long ago becomes difficult.
A holiday break also gives students time to review their exam performance. They can reflect on their study habits, strengths and weaknesses. It becomes an opportunity to set new goals for the coming semester.
A coming holiday break might also motivate students to manage their time effectively and study harder as the exam approaches. Students will also be able to seek immediate guidance and clarification from teachers and join group revision sessions before their exams.
If examinations are scheduled after a holiday break, students may lose motivation and procrastinate revision until the very last minute.
In conclusion, exams should be scheduled before a holiday break to ease pressure off students and ensure their academic success.
Against: Sophia Ling, 13, German Swiss International School
Most schools in Hong Kong have exams in January, after the winter holiday break. Some argue this negatively affects students’ mental health, as they find it difficult to relax when exams loom ahead of them.
But I still believe exams should take place after the winter holiday.
When exams are after holidays, students have enough time to review material thoroughly. They can confidently approach the exam and give a performance that accurately reflects their academic ability.
It is already challenging for students to juggle everything – including classes, coursework and extracurricular activities – and preparing for examinations only adds to the pressure. Shifting exams to being after the holiday break gives students the breathing room they need to focus on their studies without constantly balancing competing priorities.
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This scheduling also helps students learn better.
Exams held after the holiday allow teachers to cover an entire semester’s worth of material without rushing and cramming in lessons before the break. I personally have seen how pre-holiday exams have left students less time to digest the content.
Post-holiday exams give students more time to absorb the material and focus on comprehension rather than mere memorisation of facts.
Studying during the holiday break might be stressful for some, but this can also be a good opportunity for students to learn time management. Over the Christmas break, students should have enough time to study for exams and also relax.
Mapping out study schedules teaches students how to balance work and rest effectively, an essential skill that will benefit them in future pursuits. In university and the workplace, deadlines and evaluations often extend across holidays.
The extended preparation time reduces the risk of last-minute cramming during the term. Students can take a more step-by-step approach to studying, tackling revision at their own pace.
No matter when they are scheduled, exams and the stress they bring are unavoidable for students. Instead of adjusting dates, it is more important to teach students how to manage their anxiety and time effectively. Having exams after the holiday could also give students time and space to prepare adequately.