Instructor's throwing out exam questions

caliotter3 · Jun 6, 2009

I think it would be nice if the instructor made sure that questions were on material that had been covered. Throwing out questions because most of the class missed them, could be attributed to laziness on the part of the instructor. Might want to avoid any extra effort involved with dealing with students who fall into the barely or not quite passing category. If the students pass tests, then pass the course, it looks as if the instructor is doing their job well, even if such is not the case.

RNS5 · Jun 7, 2009

My instructor has a policy that states if 80% of the class misses a question, it will be thrown out. She feels that if that many people miss the question, she must not have covered it properly. ??? I don't know if that is fair or not.

kitkat260, MSN · Jun 11, 2009

I have had instructors throw out questions in the past because they felt that if the majority of the class missed it, then it was a poorly written question (most of our exam questions come from a test bank through the textbook publisher). I have also had instructors give the extra point to the students that actually got the question right (which I think is only fair). I have to think, though, that the instructors should take a little time and read over their exams before administering them-I have had instructors that were "surprised" by questions that were on an exam that they supposedly wrote. That kind of thing irritates me! :madface:

RN_in_the_making · Jun 11, 2009

I have had questions that were on the test that was in none of the material or the book, and even though I guessed correctly I think it should have been thrown out. We are expected to know whats in the book and what is discussed in lecture. This is a lot of material and when instructors put questions on a test that has not been covered I think that is unfair.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jun 12, 2009

Life isn't fair.

vintagestudent · Jun 12, 2009

I think it would be nice if the instructor made sure that questions were on material that had been covered. Throwing out questions because most of the class missed them, could be attributed to laziness on the part of the instructor. Might want to avoid any extra effort involved with dealing with students who fall into the barely or not quite passing category. If the students pass tests, then pass the course, it looks as if the instructor is doing their job well, even if such is not the case.

I have certainly witnessed the laziness regarding poorly written or surprise test questions you mentioned in my lvn program with half of my instructors, and, trust me, it doesn't help the program's reputation. Only hurts it. Why can't they just stick to the objectives and update their exams when needed? Are we, the students, asking too much?

Speaking of laziness, my friend had a clinical instructor who would show up at the beginning of LTC rotation, give brief instructions, and then leave the site never to return that day. Apparently, she had to give wound care to some patients at the facility she also works for or tend to her children that day. She'd just tell one of the reliable students to keep an eye on the rest and what time they could leave for the day...my jaw dropped when I heard this. Talk about a waste of time & money......so much has changed during the years. Some nursing programs just aren't what they used to be...but, equally, some nursing students aren't as serious about learning as they use to be. I guess it goes both ways.

Is it just a paycheck to some?

ZanatuBelmont · Jun 13, 2009

Thought i should ask this since it's on my mind before i go back to studying. well, since i've been in school on almost every exam there are a few questions an instructor would throw out for various reasons like, majority of the class missed it, material wasn't covered, etc.. i don't think it's fair to students who got the thrown out questions right who studied and students who got it wrong b/c they didn't study the material more they are not penalized for it. i've never had this happen when i was in RN school, NEVER.
Is this sort of thing happening in your classes? how do you feel about it and should i be concerned?

It also happens in my program and sometimes it is extreme. Last semester several students scored in the 50s on their cardiac exam and because the "grades were so horrible," the teacher threw out enough questions to make those students earn a B! And there I was, originally with a 94 on the exam, and only moved up to a 96.

It wasn't my fault those students failed to study ALL the material required to be successful. I'm so sick and tired of excuses in NS. There will be none - excuses - when we are dealing with life and death on the floor.

RN_in_the_making · Jun 15, 2009

In the end all that matters is did you pass the boards and can you get a job. There will always be lazy students, test you studied for but didn't do well on, and a lot of other things. I say worry about yourself, get yourself through school do whatever they ask you to do no matter how stupid, and pass the boards. All the other stuff is just that stuff.

ZanatuBelmont · Jun 15, 2009

In the end all that matters is did you pass the boards and can you get a job. There will always be lazy students, test you studied for but didn't do well on, and a lot of other things. I say worry about yourself, get yourself through school do whatever they ask you to do no matter how stupid, and pass the boards. All the other stuff is just that stuff.

I think it's more than "passing boards." Bumping students from a 50 to an 80 and not throwing out those same questions for students who did make above a B is unethical. When did we lose our value system to stand up for what's right? I'm all for doing whatever you are told in classes, and I have ignored some pretty rank situations. But a curve just to make the teacher look better bothers me to no end. To me, that insults my own integrity as a student.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jun 16, 2009

Wow this just happened to me today. Last week I took an exam and got a 78 ( 75 is passing) and today we all got emails from our instructor that a couple of questions were credited. After the added points I got bumped up to an 80 ( B!). I'm very happy and pleased. The questions that I thought I got wrong were actually right. One question had two correct answers, so originally I was marked wrong for my correct answer. I do think this was fair. I just knew I was right about that particular question and to get it wrong really confused me. Now I know that I was right and I got credit for it !

So my point is : not all instructor are throwing out questions it just may happen that there were two answers that were right.

HartfordSPN, LPN, LVN · Jun 17, 2009

I think it's more than "passing boards." Bumping students from a 50 to an 80 and not throwing out those same questions for students who did make above a B is unethical. When did we lose our value system to stand up for what's right? I'm all for doing whatever you are told in classes, and I have ignored some pretty rank situations. But a curve just to make the teacher look better bothers me to no end. To me, that insults my own integrity as a student.

all i can say is DITTO

DITTO

DITTO:yeah: