Vent..Cheating Students..and my bad test grade!!!

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Ugh, so we just got our 2nd test back today. I made a 70 on it. I don't know what I am doing wrong? I go to class, I read every chapter twice, I look over every hand out we get, I answer all the objectives...I just don't know what else I can do. I feel very sad right now. From here on out, I have to make an 85 on every exam to pass. That is doable, right? I need some honest encouragment.

It also makes me SOOOO mad that the 2 girls who sit beside me, both made 84s..of course they cheat the entire time. I know they do, because the openly talk about it before the exam. Ugh.... can I recover from this???:confused:

You can definitely recover from this... I made a low 70 on my first exam (78 was passing) and after that I had more of an idea how the test were and went on to do well on all my other tests and passed with a A.

I would suggest that you approach your instructor and ask for advice on how to study better. Not only can you get good direction, you will be showing the instructor that your interest in passing the course is high. Good luck.

Specializes in L&D.

Is there a tutoring service on campus? If you have one, GO. Also reassess your study habits - maybe reading and reviewing notes doesn't stick in your brain because you're an auditory learner. Perhaps reading your notes aloud into a tape recorder, and then playing them for yourself would help. Talk to other students and see what they found to be helpful in passing this class.

And above all else, DON'T sit next to those girls again - if the people near you are found to be cheating, you could be suspected as well.

Good luck!

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Will your program let you record lectures? I found that to be very helpful in my second year. I could listen to the lecture and follow along with the lecture notes during my own time. I also found making my own notecards to be very helpful. I could condense a lot of the information down to its key points and review the notecards for a few minutes at a time. Drawing diagrams was extremely helpful, especially when it came to things like the RAAS and cardiac physiology.

I know its tough to try your hardest, only to fail. An 85 is doable though, so don't give up! Reassess your study habits, speak with your instructor on what she suggests, etc. Also, I would def. get an NCLEX study guide book. I reccomend Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX Review. It comes with a CD full of questions. I suggest answering the questions that go with the chapters you are being tested on over and over and over. Good Luck and stay strong, You can do it!:wink2:

I am concerned about your classmates who cheat. If their grades are high, it makes the instructor think the whole class is doing better than it actually is. It makes a diffierence in the instructor's mode of teaching and expectations for the class. Could a group of you talk with the instructor about the possibility that there is cheating in the classroom? If I were the instructor, I'd want to know, and I'm pretty sure I'd be able to deal with it, even if I didn't know the culprits' names (ex: assigned seating, different test versions, additional proctors,etc).

Hang in there!

I want to talk to my teacher--but I dont want to sound like a 1st grade tattle tail!

It is just so frustrating to try so hard and do bad..then have other people not have to worry because they are using 2 brains instead of one! It isn't fair to me or the rest of the class. During my exam I am too worried about my teacher catching them talking, or looking at each other's paper that it is hard for me to concentrate. I don't want her to think I am in on the cheating--cause I am not!! We don't have assigned seats, but everyone has been sitting in the same seat since the beginning of the semester..

I want to talk to my teacher--but I dont want to sound like a 1st grade tattle tail!

It is just so frustrating to try so hard and do bad..then have other people not have to worry because they are using 2 brains instead of one! It isn't fair to me or the rest of the class. During my exam I am too worried about my teacher catching them talking, or looking at each other's paper that it is hard for me to concentrate. I don't want her to think I am in on the cheating--cause I am not!! We don't have assigned seats, but everyone has been sitting in the same seat since the beginning of the semester..

it looks like you are going to have to change seats, and/or tell the teacher why......because it appears that is is actually affecting your ability to take the test......i would try to get there early and simply take another seat...good luckq

Specializes in Surgical Trauma ICU.

You should just study harder. The other student's who are supposedly cheating have nothing to do with you. In my nursing program it seems that the students who aren't making the grade are the ones that are going to the instructors behind closed doors and pointing fingers at everyone but themselves. I don't condone cheating, but I also believe that there are some students who make the course even harder for everyone else by creating this illusion of dishonesty and cheating even when it doesn't exist. At one point in my course we had online modules that we completed at home and on our own time for a grade. These modules took hours to complete and the timed exams were somewhat tricky but extremely manageable. Because of a few complaints (from students who were not putting in the time and subsequently not making the grade) the modules were scrapped and now we have to come in to take these same exam quizzes in class with less time. Forget about those other students and focus your time and energy on passing the remainder of your course.

First of all, I am really sorry to hear about the stress you are going through. Everyone goes through it in nursing school. As for the two cheating girls. Don't get caught up in it--stay out of it. They will eventually get caught all on their own.

As for your grades. A 70 isn't that bad. Of course in nursing school though, they make it seem like an "F". It's really not all that bad. My advice to u would be to stay strong and don't let this tip u over the edge. Keep ur mind clear. As hard as it may sound, u STILL have a chance to make it through this course.

You will definitely need to spend A LOT more time working towards your next exams. U should start studying now. Every second that you have free--take that as an opportunity to whip out some flash cards. When u are at the grocery store waiting in line--again--whip out the flash cards. If u have children, ask your mom or dad to help u watch them so u can have some study time.

Just use your time wisely and shoot for the stars. U should be ok.

Getting an 85 on ur next exams is not impossible and it's far from hard, especially if u know ur stuff.

Good luck!

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

first of all, quit worrying about the cheaters. they might get through nursing school... but they can't cheat on the boards.

YOU CAN DO IT. maybe look at studying in a different light. take a look at how you study and then take a look at how your professor tests and see if they are compatible. for instance, if your instructor tests alot on prioritization, spend more time focused on your case studies. if she focuses more on facts, focus more on your textbook key terms. ask one of the students in your class who is doing well how they study and maybe even make a buddy with them and study together. but most of all, keep sight of your dream and dont let a bad grade phase your confidence.

good luck!!!

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