<p>So I’ve got two questions:</p>
<p>1) read the title</p>
<p>2) does the placebo effect work if you know what it is? Cause maybe if I believe 2nd semester is easier, I can maybe pull out better grades.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Completely depends on the classes I have for x semester. Probably works that way for most people. I also think what grade the person’s in makes a difference. In my opinion, freshmen are new to it and all eager, so they do well, but might peter out toward the end because they aren’t used to high school as much as others are. For sophomores and juniors, it’s just a grind, because they’re not done with school for another year or two. But for juniors, they know it’s an important year and might be motivated to do well. Seniors, well, obviously senioritis for all/part of the year.</p></li>
<li><p>That would depend on you. Try it and see.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>For me, first semester is difficult because of the adjustment to new classes, teachers, grading scales, and the like. Sometimes I do really badly on something at the beginning of first semester bc I’m not familiar with the way the teacher grades, and I find it hard to pull my grade back up again.
Second semester is also difficult, but because the material gets harder, the teacher starts going faster, or (in AP classes) you start doing test prep and cramming all the info at the last minute (<em>ahem</em> AP Chem). But like CE said, it really depends on the person class, teacher, etc.
The placebo effect kind of works for me. (i.e. I convince myself that all my classes are easy and that I’m an idiot if I can’t get A’s in all of them.) But again, it’s different for different people. I would not recommend convincing yourself that AP Chem or AP Physics C is easy though - you’ll just get even more frustrated that you’d already be.</p>
<p>1) With my school, first semester is usually easiest. Everyone’s back from summer break, classes are new and usually exciting, and you haven’t had a chance to burn out yet. </p>
<p>2) Like CE said, it would really depend on you. Personally, it works for me for about a month, maybe two, tops. After that, especially toward the end of 2nd semester, I feel totally burned out.</p>
<p>I find 2nd Semester easier. At that point, I’ve adjusted to the expectations of my teachers and their grading style. I also know how to allocate my time more effectively - I know which classes I can cut back a bit of effort and still get an A, and then divert that time to the borderline classes. </p>
<p>My teachers also seem more laid back second semester, and grade with leniency (they burn out too, and stop giving it their full effort). </p>
<p>The material does get harder, but I think knowing what to expect and being more prepared more than makes up for it.</p>
<p>For me, first semester is easier. First of all, we have all these breaks (fall break, winter break, various holidays) and we only have spring break during second semester, and maybe 2 holidays. I also get really lazy starting like right now and procrastinate a ton, so there’s that. There’s also AP exams to look forward in May, which sucks.</p>
<p>I think spring semester is better. My high school has block scheduling, so we completely switch classes in the spring. I’d probably go insane if I had to have the same classes all year (in that case fall semester would be better), but new classes give me a chance to start again and not make the same mistakes I made in the fall.</p>
<p>1) definitely 2nd semester, probably because of material getting harder, and getting tired of school. for the past 2 years, I’ve managed to get straight As 1st semester, but never 2nd semester
2)I doubt it, but might as well be omptimistic</p>
<p>Depends. 1st semester you have to adjust to new classes, but 2nd semester there is no review and the material gets harder.</p>
<p>1st semester is definitely harder for me because I have to adjust to a teacher’s style of grading. 2nd semester is usually easy.</p>
<p>1st semester is usually harder for me because I try to stay super focused and organized then completely burn-out. Second semester I have a better idea how to work in that class (my school switches teachers) and I am more motivated.</p>
<p>Depends. Some years, it was 2nd semester. Others, it was first. I’m still a tiny bit lazy this semester (I’m counting on my parents possibly moving us to a new town). But in any case, I’ll definitely will myself to work harder next semester</p>
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<p>2nd is easier for me, I always manage to screw up the 1st semester somehow. (though.this year went perfect except for a chemistry grade which could have been higher, but was still higher than I deserved and wanted)</p>
<p>2nd Semester by far for me is easier. Some of my 2nd Semester grades last year were up to 11% higher than my first semester grades.</p>
<p>Ex.</p>
<p>Spanish 1
1st Semester Grade:80%
2nd Semester Grade:88%</p>
<p>Biology
1st Semester Grade:84%
2nd Semester Grade:91%</p>
<p>Algebra 2/Trig Honors
1st Semester Grade:85%
2nd Semester Grade:96%</p>
<p>and other classes (except PE) were all higher</p>
<p>English Honors
1st Semester:92%
2nd Semester:93%</p>
<p>World History Honors
1st Semester:93%
2nd Semester:95%</p>
<p>General PE
1st Semester:100%
2nd Semester:98% (We had the School District Fitness Test which counted for like 30 points on our grade and I got a 26/30 on it so it brought me down and there was one day where I just forgot my clothes at home)</p>