The Dynamics of High-Stakes Exam Preparation in Azerbaijani High Schools: Impacts on Teaching and Engagement (Poster 1)

• In Event: Division D Graduate Student Committee In-Progress Research Gala Poster Session

Abstract

This research explores how high school teachers in Azerbaijan adapt their teaching practices to incorporate exam-focused preparation and examines how out-of-classroom activities influence students’ attendance and engagement in school. The study focuses on high-stakes graduation and university admission exams, which play a pivotal role in shaping educational trajectories. By investigating teaching methods, curriculum pacing, and classroom activities, as well as the effects of external preparation (private tutoring and test preparation courses), the study will also provide a view of how students and teachers navigate the pressures of high-stakes exams. Preliminary findings suggest that while teachers significantly modify their lesson plans, students’ reliance on external preparation influences their daily school routines.

Author

• Vafa Alakbarova, University of Massachusetts - Amherst