School Test

[KarmaPolice]

I am taking some online classes to finish my degree. I just took the first test of one of the classes and of my four years in college this was the worst. totally unorganized questions that were very poorly written. Questions could have been interpreted differently and I am close to 100% sure that one of the T/F questions was down right wrong. Plus I would say that about 1/4 of the questions were there just to try to trick you..not actually test your knowledge of the subject.

The last question was what did you think of this test?

I want to write the teacher and tell her that I think. I got some questions right that were marked wrong, and that the format of the test/test questions were not very good. The problem is that it is very early in the semester and a lot of the class grade is from things like participation, and papers which can be graded very objectively. Now if this was a normal class it would be easier but if I write an email being too critical I am worried that it will effect the rest of my grade.

Should I just ask to considering giving me points of the questions I think are right or should I actually give her my opinion...

 

[nick1985]

Just bend over and take it, no reason pissing off a professor...at least while you are taking her class. If its REALLY bad, take it up with the dean.

 

[waggy]

go in with the test and talk to the proffesor. you damn well better have proof you are right. ir not you are setting yourself up for a bad semester.

IF it does not get any better take it up with the dean. but you will need lots of proof.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I am taking some online classes to finish my degree. I just took the first test of one of the classes and of my four years in college this was the worst. totally unorganized questions that were very poorly written. Questions could have been interpreted differently and I am close to 100% sure that one of the T/F questions was down right wrong. Plus I would say that about 1/4 of the questions were there just to try to trick you..not actually test your knowledge of the subject.

The last question was what did you think of this test?

I want to write the teacher and tell her that I think. I got some questions right that were marked wrong, and that the format of the test/test questions were not very good. The problem is that it is very early in the semester and a lot of the class grade is from things like participation, and papers which can be graded very objectively. Now if this was a normal class it would be easier but if I write an email being too critical I am worried that it will effect the rest of my grade.

Should I just ask to considering giving me points of the questions I think are right or should I actually give her my opinion...

The line in bold above is always the case with multiple choice tests. It's something you learn to accept and move on. The argument can also be made that if you really knew the subject matter, the question would be straight forward. In any case, there isn't much you can do about that.

As far as the answers being wrong, that definitely is a possibility. However, make sure you do your research and know for sure that the answer was marked incorrectly. If the question is up for interpretation, you could always ask the instructor to clarify, although oftentimes you may find that the instructor refuses to answer any questions.

Instead of trying to write an e-mail to your professor criticizing them about the test, you could schedule an appointment and go over the questions you had trouble with and talk about why you had trouble with them. Just having a chat with your prof. will tell you if your understanding of the material was sub-par or if the question itself was obscure. If you see the prof. think really hard about the answer or say something like "Yeah, this could also have been interpreted that way" you highlight the point you're trying to make without fear of offending the prof.

 

[Pugnax]

Originally posted by: nick1985
Just bend over and take it, no reason pissing off a professor...at least while you are taking her class. If its REALLY bad, take it up with the dean.

I'd meet with the professor first. Depending on the school, the dean may not have much say; usually professors have the final say in all grades. I'd meet with the professor (office hours or something), although since it is online, I guess an email is best.
DON'T start giving the professor attitude or your "opinion." You will just dig yourself a big hole, plus it doesn't help you. Explain the questions you think you got right. Logic and facts are your best defense against a bad professor (even then it might not work).
Good luck.

 

[dyna]

I have talked to professors about questions on the test. They typically don't get too offended. Sometimes they will end up taking your opinion quite highly afterwards, depending on your status in their class.

 

[FP]

Welcome to college.

You aren't smarter than the teacher no matter what you think.

 

[sponge008]

Originally posted by: binister
Welcome to college.

You aren't smarter than the teacher no matter what you think.

You don't have to actually believe that, just act like you do.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: dyna
I have talked to professors about questions on the test. They typically don't get too offended. Sometimes they will end up taking your opinion quite highly afterwards, depending on your status in their class.

yes but it really depends on how you confront them. you go in respectfull and polite you will be amazed at hwo they act.

the tone he has in his post is anything but that. wouldnt shock me to find he goes in bitching and complaining. wich will make the semester a really long and hard one.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I am taking some online classes to finish my degree. I just took the first test of one of the classes and of my four years in college this was the worst. totally unorganized questions that were very poorly written. Questions could have been interpreted differently and I am close to 100% sure that one of the T/F questions was down right wrong. Plus I would say that about 1/4 of the questions were there just to try to trick you..not actually test your knowledge of the subject.

The last question was what did you think of this test?

I want to write the teacher and tell her that I think. I got some questions right that were marked wrong, and that the format of the test/test questions were not very good. The problem is that it is very early in the semester and a lot of the class grade is from things like participation, and papers which can be graded very objectively. Now if this was a normal class it would be easier but if I write an email being too critical I am worried that it will effect the rest of my grade.

Should I just ask to considering giving me points of the questions I think are right or should I actually give her my opinion...

Just to let you know complaining if anything makes your situation worse then better. Unless the professor is doing something illegal (and I mean molestation, murder, rape etc...) you don't stand a chance complaining. It's the philosophy of most universities to take student complaints lightly. It's because there are so many students vs. one professor so some of them are bound to complain. And their complaint may not be true and realistic but based on the horrible grade that got from them.

During my Undergraduate in Computer Science we were taking this Artificial intel course. It was my last semester so this was an upper level 600 level course The professor was horrible. He didn't explain things fully. Lied about curving (because the whole class was doing poor). Anyway towards the end of the course a student who made straight A's in every course of the major decided to send a global email to every student of the class suggesting some sort of petition. Well of course one of the students who like him vented this information to him. The professor end up failing the student (unjustly). I know this because I did poorer on every test and assignment then he did and I passed with a C. When he approached the professor the professor got angry and said "oh i can't answer any of your questions I have to protect myself you see".

The "world of academia" has a different set of rules and it may not always be correct.

 

[Indolent]

What type of class was this? It almost sounds like the teacher might have made the test that way on purpose to test your reaction.

The last question was what did you think of this test?

I want to write the teacher and tell her that I think.

It looks like the teacher gave you a pretty clear place to tell her what you thought of the test but your first response is to want to write her an email?

 

[Jeff7]

I had a test recently where one of the questions was literally impossible to answer without more information. It was a thermodynamics test, and the question asked for the pressure, internal energy, and state of water that is at 140F. The temperature was the ONLY information given. So pressure, volume, specific density, everything was unknown. He said that he wanted to see how we'd go about solving it. One way was to assume a state, and go from there. I wrote down "assume compressed liquid" and went from there, as that gave enough information to solve the problem.

 

[KarmaPolice]

,

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I am not going to go to her and just bitch and moan. Like I said I am a senior and have had enough tests and profs to know what not to do. Its just a bit different cause this is online.

Here is the kind of question she asked...roughly..

"The RLA covers the railroad industry. The NRLA covers the private sector with a few exceptions"
I said true..the RLA does cover the railroad system and the NRLA does cover the private sector.
She said it was false because it the RLA covers the railroad industry AND the airline industry. Which is true..the RLA started just covering the railroad industry but then later included the airline industry. Now isn't the question still a true statement? If i made the statement. Andy likes apples and pies and cindy likes bacon and milk. And then i asked the question "Andy likes pies, and cindy likes bacon.....True or False"...its still true....

Yup, if RLA covers railroad and airline, "RLA covers railroad" is true. Good luck explaining such things to the professor. I think I'd have more luck in person than in an email.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I once had a Geology class with multi-part multiple choice questions. The catch was wrong answers had a negative value. It was possible (and happened) to get 80% of the questions correct and still get a 'D.' I recommend doing a little research into previous tests of your professor and get a handle on how she writes tests.

 

[musicetime101]

Hey I think you should talk to the professor, no matter what the result the proffessor will not get angry with you, he will realize that you are thinking about things in details, and maybe a different way from others , this is a good thing . And I do think if you don't talk to him, you will still worry about it , just be brave and slove the problem . The result can be good, who can tell then.Anyway hope my suggestion helps.