I understand that college finals are a good evaluation of whether concepts are understood and I agree with this; however, I do no agree with making a final comprehensive over so much material that it dwarfs the value of previously covered material such it initial tests become irrelevant.  This makes it not a test of knowledge rather a test of memory.  This is not a great way to increase confidence or inspire others to learn its a way to weed out those that have lower memory potentials compared to those that do and not a test of whether you understand the concepts and can apply them.  Sorry ranting for my wife she just went through an organic chemistry final that almost gave her a nervous break down and I am taking my Physics final in comparison where I get a sheet of formulas she got a big fat known 90 different conversions of chemical products along with the intermediate products by memory.  Just seems a little lopsided is all I have to say.