Instructor caused me to get an answer wrong on my exam, and I'm furious !

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Specializes in LTC.

i am so furious right now that i can scream. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

ok, so i'm taking my exam and i'm on question 97 out of 100. thus far this has been my hardest nursing exam and i'm just try to hang in there for the next three questions before breaking down. so on question 97 i'm having difficulites, i can't chose between two of the four answers. so i pick my answer and put it on the scan tron, so now i'm ready to move on. i also put a question mark next to it so that i can track how many questions i think i got wrong. so next thing i know my instructor is standing beside me... :( i was petrified, i wasn't sure what was going on. she looks at me and then looks at my the question i was stuck on and tells me " remember what i told you in class" so right after that i immediately changed my answer. so come to find out during the test review, the answer that i changed to was actually wrong !:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

i was so angry. initially, i chose the right answer... it wasn't until my instructor came over to me trying to help made me switch my answer. why couldn't she just leave me alone and let me be. she shouldn't be trying to give me cues anyway. isn't that a form of cheating ???? isn't that wrong ? i didn't even ask for help and when she voluntered info. i got anxious and just knew i chose the wrong answer. i should of stuck to my guts and ignored her.

but seriously, what would you have done... imagine you are between two answers, then you finally chose your answer, and then the instructor comes over and looks at the answer you chose and makes a comment. :crying2:

i wanted to express my feelings to her, but i pick and choose my battles wisely, and besides of what my thread is titled i know that i was still responsible for the answer i chose. however, i just can' help to feel sick that i was influenced by her. :zzzzz

well, atleast i feel as though i still passed...

has anyone else ever gone through this before ?

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I've actually never heard of an instructor trying to give hints or talking to students during an exam. That was very unprofessional of her.

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Well, all I can add to what Firestarter said, is that I certainly hope you don't need that one or two points at the end of the term to pass the class or get the higher grade. Perhaps you should speak to her in private. As long as you are polite, there shouldn't be a problem.

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Specializes in LTC.

No, I'm going to let it go. I'm a very drama free person and I just don't want to blow things up out of proportion. Yes I was furious, but after seeing my PASSING GRADE of 81 I'm on cloud nine right now, and I don't even care.

However, if I did that one point I would be so distraught right now.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

It makes no sense to me that an instructor, walking around, looking at a Scantron sheet which is just numbers with marks on it, could know the answer to question #97 off the top of her head without seeing the test question or the answer key? I think that what does make sense is that she saw your question mark, had a hand in the construction of the test questions and was giving you a general hint that the test questions were based on her lecture material. I think she was sincerely trying to help you.

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It makes no sense to me that an instructor, walking around, looking at a Scantron sheet which is just numbers with marks on it, could know the answer to question #97 off the top of her head without seeing the test question or the answer key? I think that what does make sense is that she saw your question mark, had a hand in the construction of the test questions and was giving you a general hint that the test questions were based on her lecture material. I think she was sincerely trying to help you.

This makes sense.

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Specializes in LTC.
It makes no sense to me that an instructor, walking around, looking at a Scantron sheet which is just numbers with marks on it, could know the answer to question #97 off the top of her head without seeing the test question or the answer key? I think that what does make sense is that she saw your question mark, had a hand in the construction of the test questions and was giving you a general hint that the test questions were based on her lecture material. I think she was sincerely trying to help you.

I'm sorry maybe I didn't explain it well. We answer all questions in the test booklet. I'm not even allowed to write questions marks or any other markings on the scan tron. She was soley looking in my test booklet, at question 97 with the question mark on it. She stood next to me for about 30 seconds before making her comment. I also do remember her talking about that question, but for some reason I was still stuck. But yes, she knew exactly what question I was on and she decided to put her two cents in. I know she was trying to help me, but I didn't need her help... really. I just wanted to get my exam over with.

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Specializes in LTC.

You guys I'm not making this up ! I wish I was, trust me I do. I too would be shocked if someone told me an instructor did this. Heck, it'll be hard to believe. I'm just sharing my story thats all.

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Oh well, all's well that ends well. Not much difference between an 81 and 82. Good luck on your next test!

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Test Taking 101

Your first instinctual answer is almost ALWAYS the right one. ;)

If you have to choose between the answer your brain picked and the answer you picked go with your brain. It's smarter than we are.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Well, I'm someone who often picks the wrong answer first and then switches to the right one. It's a matter of doing lots of practise questions and working out what kind of test-taker you are: someone who changes right to wrong, or vice versa, a "clumper" who gets one wrong and then follows with a clump of wrong ones etc. Learning that stuff is one of the most important things I learnt, I think.

OP, I don't see how saying "remember what I said in lecture" influenced you to pick a particular answer.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I've actually never heard of an instructor trying to give hints or talking to students during an exam. That was very unprofessional of her.

In all the classes I have taken in College I have never had this happen either. In fact the Instructors have never even walked around.

Was the instructor maybe talking about focusing to long on one question and coming back to it and not commenting on the actual answer you wrote?? Still unprofessional and confusing and distracting, but I know our instructors always stress not to get stuck on one question and not to second guess yourself by constantly changing answers.

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