By Ojelade Pipeloluwa
At the university, there is much emphasis on tests and examinations. In fact, for the majority of students, test and exam weeks are when they get serious, doing overnights in lecture theatres or spending the day in the school library.
Underlying this belief is perhaps the idea that tests and exams are the defining moments that determine a person's CGPA or pass/fail status in the university.
But in reality, academic performance for many students is shaped long before they enter the examination hall. Across campus, class attendance and assignments continue to influence how well students perform in their courses. Interviewing several students on campus reveals mixed opinions.
Although examinations remain important, students say consistent attendance helps them better understand course content, while assignments provide opportunities to earn additional marks through continuous assessment.
According to Grace Adeniyi, a 200-level student from the Faculty of Administration, attending lectures regularly has helped her stay on track academically.
‘Most times, lecturers explain things in class that later come out in assignments or exams. If you miss lectures, you are already behind,’ she stated.
She also added that even if a student does not perform exceptionally well in exams, assignments can help balance the score.
Joy Adesanya explained that lectures often provide insights that cannot be easily replaced.
‘There are things lecturers say in class that you will not find in slides or textbooks. Missing that affects both assignments and exams,’ she noted.
Similarly, Samson Peace, a 300-level student, said being present in class helps her stay focused. ‘When you attend classes, you understand what is expected of you. It also makes you more serious about submitting assignments on time,’ she added.
However, this reaction is not the same for all students. Aliu Salmod, a 300-level student from the Faculty of Science, believes attendance and assignments are sometimes over-emphasised.
‘I feel attendance and assignments do not always reflect how well a person understands a course. Some students can study on their own and still perform well in exams. Missing a few classes or assignments should not automatically mean losing marks,’ he argued.
Another interviewed student raised concerns about the large marks sometimes awarded for assignments and attendance.
'Once you miss an assignment or attendance, that mark is gone. It becomes zero. That can affect your grade badly, even if you do well in exams. Sometimes the system feels too strict and doesn’t consider individual situations.'
A lecturer from the Faculty of Arts, reacting to these concerns, explained that attendance and assignments are meant to support the learning process rather than serve as punishment.
‘Assignments help us assess students gradually, while attendance allows them to follow the course properly. Students who participate consistently tend to perform better overall,’ the lecturer noted.
He further added that continuous engagement helps students avoid relying solely on last-minute exam preparation.
Meanwhile, as the academic session continues, attendance and assignments remain essential tools for students seeking to strengthen their academic performance. Beyond examinations, consistent participation in lectures and coursework continues to shape academic outcomes across campus.
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