The offbeat rhythm of our academic calendar
Each semester, BracU students swallow a dare pill for a week-long trip they did not plan for. The hazy days between waking and barely functioning are filled with bus rides, dozing off mid-meal, and, finally, the dread of the exam desk. There is a mounting sleep debt, tonnes of self-doubt, and a constant promise to catch up before exams. And just like that, midterms arrive with a massive distress call. But are students truly ready?
The week leading up to midterms is packed with coursework and assessments, with lab exams often scheduled before theory exams. Fatma Tuz Zohra (Sophomore, CSE) describes her six-day class routine, leaving her burnt out even before midterms. She says, “I end up sacrificing some topics and cramming for 10 to 12 hours just to cover as much as I can.” This academic survival mode becomes necessary when the calendar does not leave any room for competency. In contrast, the university provides one to two days of preparatory recess before finals, raising an important concern: are finals being prioritised over midterms? With midterms accounting for around 30% of the final grade, compressing multiple exams into one week makes it infeasible to balance academics, work, and mental well-being, especially for students with long commutes.
However, Warisul Imam (Sophomore, MNS) acknowledges, “Most majors are constantly chasing deadlines, and the recess becomes their only chance for exam preparation. Instead of enforcing general policies, flexibility should be given based on course demands.” In a world that demands balance, it is hardly learned when the semester itself never models it. However, Ifthikhar Zaman (Lecturer, SLS) reminds that extra time would not help students who rely on last-minute cramming. He says, “Preparatory breaks are meant for revision, not for learning material from scratch. The current structured routines help maintain momentum, leaving less scope for procrastination and lethargy.”
The frustration is not merely a plea for time; it is a rejection of a schedule that demands excellence while offering no grace for error. While a brief recess cannot fix every systemic fracture, its implementation may greatly relieve some students facing exam anxiety and crushing deadlines just before midterms or finals.
