Researching Effects of Pandemic Period on 8th and 12th Grade Students Preparing for Exams in 2020 – 2021 Academic Year

Abstract

The purpose of this study is examining the positive and negative effects of the pandemic period on the 8^th and 12^th grade students preparing for the exams in 2020-2021 academic year. This study was carried out by fifteen 8^th and 12^th grade students studying at a secondary school in two different high schools in the center of Gaziantep in Southeast Anatolia region in 2020-2021 academic year. Semi-structured interview technique was used as a data collection tool in this study. Descriptive and content analysis were used in the analysis of the obtained data. According to the results of the study, some positive and negative effects of the pandemic period were found on the 8^th and 12^th grade students who were preparing for the LGS and YKS exams. While there are negative results such as getting behind of the subjects, shortening the course time, experiencing technological difficulties, internet access problems, physical and mental effects, anxiety about illness; some students stated that shortening the course time has positive effects on eye health and they have more time to study as they stay at home and by this means they stated that this situation positively affected their courses. The findings were discussed in the light of the literature and various suggestions were made.