<p>Are they a big deal (lots and lots of revision) or are they just like those end-of-chapter tests in high school? And what forms do the assessments take?</p>
<p>Generally speaking, final exams are a big deal no matter what college you go to. The format varies: in hum and sosc, it’s pretty standard to just have a final paper (non-cumulative, so it’s just like any other paper). Most non-discussion classes have traditional pen-and-paper final exams, though there are plenty of exceptions. My core bio class, for instance, did not have a cumulative final, which made for a particularly easy finals week this time around.</p>
<p>In almost every class, your final evaluation (usually a test or project [for math/science classes] or paper [humanities and social sciences classes]) will be the largest single component of your grade. My final exams in my math classes this quarter were worth 25% and 35% of my respective grades in those classes, and my final CIV paper was worth 35% of my grade in that class. Not to exaggerate, but they are quite a big deal and the libraries are almost always packed (and the students frazzled) during tenth week, reading period, and finals.</p>