Graduation comes closer each day, and with that, Rocky Mountain seniors had to take the annual civics test, a state requirement for seniors to test their understanding of the U.S government and history before they graduate.

The test covers many topics about the government such as the branches of government, details about the Senate, and the U.S presidents. It also touches on the importance of Independence Day, the President’s party, and key historical figures throughout time.  “There were questions about the American government, Idaho, and some history,” said Senior Aubrey Orchard. The test is important, so seniors have a firm knowledge on how the government functions.

According to some seniors, the test was much easier than they expected. Senior Scarlett Stone says she thought the test would be harder because of the amount of studying that can go into it. “I know a handful of people that were studying for it, which I didn’t think was really necessary.” According to Stone and two other seniors, Orchard and Emily Wendt, the test took them around 30 minutes to complete, and it wasn’t the kind of test that takes much preparation. Wendt said, “There were some really easy questions.” There were 100 questions overall on the test and it sounds like the test was a breeze for most seniors.

Orchard touched on advice for juniors that have to take the Civics test next year. “Do not even stress about it, you’ll do great. But maybe remember who our governor is.” For juniors concerned about taking the test next year, simply reviewing questions provided by your teacher or doing research of your own will help with preparation. Stone said, “If you are worried about it, just look over some questions. It’s super easy to Google them.”

The Civics test is a good reminder that understanding how the government works is an important part of preparing Seniors to be informed citizens after graduation. With the test behind them, Seniors can now focus on finishing their final year strong and preparing for life beyond Rocky Mountain High School.