Unfair Exam: how to discuss with professor

[polyploidy516]

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I have a question; specifically, as I took a class where the professor had mentioned that the final exam would be in the same format as the cumulative exam given earlier ( the professor gave two cumulative exams), the professor unfortunately made the final exam very specific (focused on only 3/15 chapters of the book).

Do you think this is unfair as the professor only tested on 1/5th of the text even though he mentioned that the exam was cumulative; he also mentioned that the exam would be the same format as the previous exam (essays and multiple choice); however this exam was of a different format that also included fill in the blanks etc that totaled about 1/3rd of the final grade.


I will be meeting with him on Tuesday to go over my exam; do you think I can say that the exam was unfair in the sense that it was against what he had mentioned in class (the format was different and the topics tested were too focused compared to the other exams? he specifically mentioned that the exam would be cumulative like the previous exam but only focused on 3/15 chapters).

Do you feel that what the professor did was fair? your clarifications would be heavily appreciated.

 

[postbacpremed87]

It's fair. Be prepared and expect anything at anytime.

I have a question; specifically, as I took a class where the professor had mentioned that the final exam would be in the same format as the cumulative exam given earlier ( the professor gave two cumulative exams), the professor unfortunately made the final exam very specific (focused on only 3/15 chapters of the book).

Do you think this is unfair as the professor only tested on 1/5th of the text even though he mentioned that the exam was cumulative; he also mentioned that the exam would be the same format as the previous exam (essays and multiple choice); however this exam was of a different format that also included fill in the blanks etc that totaled about 1/3rd of the final grade.


I will be meeting with him on Tuesday to go over my exam; do you think I can say that the exam was unfair in the sense that it was against what he had mentioned in class (the format was different and the topics tested were too focused compared to the other exams? he specifically mentioned that the exam would be cumulative like the previous exam but only focused on 3/15 chapters).

Do you feel that what the professor did was fair? your clarifications would be heavily appreciated.

 

[polyploidy516]

i appreciate your response; the reason why im angry is because when i had emailed him, he mentioned that the exam would be of the same format as the previous email and would also be cumulative. do you think that there is anything that I can say that would swing in my favor or am I just SOL?

 

[milkphlegm]

I have a question; specifically, as I took a class where the professor had mentioned that the final exam would be in the same format as the cumulative exam given earlier ( the professor gave two cumulative exams), the professor unfortunately made the final exam very specific (focused on only 3/15 chapters of the book).

Do you think this is unfair as the professor only tested on 1/5th of the text even though he mentioned that the exam was cumulative; he also mentioned that the exam would be the same format as the previous exam (essays and multiple choice); however this exam was of a different format that also included fill in the blanks etc that totaled about 1/3rd of the final grade.


I will be meeting with him on Tuesday to go over my exam; do you think I can say that the exam was unfair in the sense that it was against what he had mentioned in class (the format was different and the topics tested were too focused compared to the other exams? he specifically mentioned that the exam would be cumulative like the previous exam but only focused on 3/15 chapters).

Do you feel that what the professor did was fair? your clarifications would be heavily appreciated.

Although it was shiesty, its not unfair by any means. It will happen again too. You should always know all the material inside and out for an exam, and format shouldn't be something that's going to throw you off. What WOULD be unfair is if he said it was on 3 of the 15 chapters, but then tested on all 15.

I think that you can say that you expected something different from the exam, but you're prepared for anything he throws your way now. It'll be good to go over the test, so he knows you care and respect your effort. But you should not put the blame on him for your performance on the exam.

 

[Amba]

i appreciate your response; the reason why im angry is because when i had emailed him, he mentioned that the exam would be of the same format as the previous email and would also be cumulative. do you think that there is anything that I can say that would swing in my favor or am I just SOL?

The whole class took the same exam. It's not like the dude sitting next to you had secret info on what to study. Part of this is being able to read the nuances of what professors say in class - you'd be amazed how much info they provide without actually saying it.

If you bring this up to the professor, he will have zero sympathy, and rightfully so.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Cumulative exams mean you will be responsible to know all the material. It doesn't mean that you will be tested on all the material.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Still posting this for "a friend?"

 

[Camy99]

Cumulative exams mean you will be responsible to know all the material. It doesn't mean that you will be tested on all the material.

This.
The format thing does suck though, but /technically/ if you know your stuff it doesn't matter what it looks like (but I understand fill-in-the-blanks require a different study method).

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

It must suck to teach entry level science classes at a university. Every time a pre-med gets a B on an exam, there is hell to pay...

 

[VictorAlpha]

nothing's going to change about it. But you're right that is a crappy situation. I mean he could have just said, "I'm not going to reveal the format or content, so know everything."

If anybody had a mis-step it was the prof. but again, nothing is going to happen for you. In the future you can either: not trust the answer or double check and trust it at your own risk.

 

[A7X]

It's totally fair.

 

[jm192]

You'll just seem whiny.

He said it would cover 15 chapters. If you knew all the stuff from 15 chapters, you'd be able to answer questions from 3 chapters. Maybe you would have focused more. But he's within his rights or whatever to ask you to study everything.

Remember, YOUR grade is of almost no consequence to your professors. The teacher in them is going to ask you to study more than is actually on the test. Most teachers won't say here's exactly what's on the test. Because that's all you'll study--and that doesn't promote learning. And they care more about your learning than they do your grade. Life sucks. But we all deal with it.

 

[orderofthescar]

It sucks, but it's fair. You could mention your concerns and see what your prof says, but I wouldn't be too pushy about it and I wouldn't expect anything out of the exchange.

 

[TriagePreMed]

It is kind of unfair when a test ends up really different than the test that was proposed to be like, but that's not reason enough to complain. If many students had done poorly and felt like you did, this would be a bigger issue. I'd say take it in the chin and move on.

 

[yehhhboiii]

It seems unfair to tell you that the test will be of a certain format when it's not but you either know the material or you don't.

 

[polyploidy516]

It seems unfair to tell you that the test will be of a certain format when it's not but you either know the material or you don't.

Thank you for the suggestions! I guess Ill just talk to the professsor ( i have a meeting with him this week and will voice my concerns; hopefully he'll understand especially since I have the email proof that he contradicted himself).

FWIW, this was a make-up exam so only one person took the exam. Im sure if others had, they wouldve voiced the same opinion as me.

Thanks again!