'The Smartest Kids in the World': 6 stories about students from Amanda Ripley's book

Journalist Amanda Ripley followed three American teenagers as they went to three of the most educationally successful countries in the world to attend school. Here are some of the stories.

5. Graduation exam

Petri Krook
Teacher Pia Juhola writes on the chalkboard at a school in Finland.

In Finland, where Kim studied, Kim's teacher Tiina Stara, said she worried that a graduation exam taken by all students in Finland influenced her lessons too much. "I sometimes want so badly to do something fun with them," she said. "I think it's very important that they enjoy studying." However, she said the test "is a very good exam" and she wouldn't get rid of it if given the choice. However, in a survey, students living in Finland said that the number of tests they had to take contributed to their dislike of school.

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