We thought it would be interesting to see if any sixth graders had questions for us older, more knowledgeable eighth graders. We went outside the pods early in the morning, walked around, and interviewed some sixth graders. Suprisingly, these sixth graders had many questions. Here are some of the questions and our answers.

Is the homework harder in 8th grade?
Mostly, yes. This depends on your pod and your math level. Also, to prepare you for high school, teachers need to assign work outside of school so that kids use what they’ve learned in the real world. On average, it takes about 1-2 hours for 8th graders to do their homework. Sometimes you get a chance to work on your homework in class which is good because you get a head start. There are definitely more essays in 8th grade and you have to be able to manage your time to get them done by the due date. You do not want to procrastinate because it is nice to have a break after all of your homework and school day.

Are the teachers nice in 8th grade?
Yes, of course they’re nice but no different than the teachers you have in 6th grade. As you reach 8th grade, you might think they are being mean or harsh, but only to prepare you for high school. Teachers in 8th grade are also more laid back and let you be more independent. They normally don’t give you many instructions and don’t say “Take out your assignment notebooks.” This also has its benefits. You are allowed to do things on your own and teachers praise you more when you are independent.

Are the tests hard in 8th grade?
The tests are definitely harder than in 6th grade, but if you are participating and understanding the unit, it shouldn’t be a big challenge unless you’re engaged in class. In 8th grade, you can normally choose your level, academic, scholar, or challenger, depending on how much you know the material, and how prepared you are for the assessment. In 8th grade, the teachers don’t normally give you a study guide; therefore, you must perform good study skills to do well on the test. Sometimes you will receive shorter tests (out of 10), which are harsher because if you only get two points off, you already have an 80 percent.