Is it fair to have a take home mutiple choice exam for A&P1?

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Today in my A&P1 class the students managed to convince our professor that our last exam of the semester should be a take home exam! My professor said that she wont change the format, so it will still be multiple choice and true/false questions. I feel like this will make it so easy for people to just compare answers and cheat and be able to get an easy A without studying or coming to class.

The crazy thing is that it was going to be a regular in class exam, but my teacher is a bit of a push-over and the class actually convinced her to make it take home. I feel like this is unfair for students like myself, who put in effort and get excellent grades on our own.

My biggest problem with this is that the nursing program at our school only looks at our first semster marks for addmissions. (They wont have semester 2 marks in on time). So if it's so easy to get an A in A&P1, there is nothing to distinguish the students by, and I'm worried students might be admitted by lottery! Plus making the class so easy is not a good way to prepare student for nursing school.

Should I tell my professor that I don't think this is fair? I was thinking of suggesting that we have an "open book" exam as a compromise, since the students seem to think that the regular exams are sooo hard. At least that way people can't cheat off each other. Or am I being really obnoxious and should I just let this go?

Thanks for your help everyone :)

Specializes in School Nursing.

Copper- I think your background in biology probably plays a role in making this class easier for you than other students who may not have other degrees hanging on the wall.

Grades improve with experience. You've honed your study skills. You've taken a lot of science classes. This class may have been easy for you no matter how difficult or laid back the instructor.

I'm sure that your completion of a degree (in Nutrition, no less) WILL be noticed by the committee that chooses who to let into that program.

In the meantime, you should really give the students who find this class to be hard a break... to them IT IS hard and perhaps they are working just as hard as you for their B's and C's.

Copper- I think your background in biology probably plays a role in making this class easier for you than other students who may not have other degrees hanging on the wall.

Grades improve with experience. You've honed your study skills. You've taken a lot of science classes. This class may have been easy for you no matter how difficult or laid back the instructor.

I'm sure that your completion of a degree (in Nutrition, no less) WILL be noticed by the committee that chooses who to let into that program.

In the meantime, you should really give the students who find this class to be hard a break... to them IT IS hard and perhaps they are working just as hard as you for their B's and C's.

Yep, I know that my science background is making the class easier than it would be without it. However, I think the class is still pretty easy for most people to do well in. We get to drop our lowest exam grade, and there's an extra 18 points available in extra credit essays. So I don't think the final exam needs to be take home. I think if our professor allows us to bring in a "cheat sheet" that will make life easier for many students.

It just seemed ridiculous to me that some students were putting pressure our prof to make a multiple choice, 64 question exam take home. The exam was designed to be written in class in one hour and my prof was talking about giving us 12 days to finish it at home! I just can't see how anyone wouldn't be able to get an A on it.

Unfortunately having a degree in nutrition doesn't mean that I'm sure to get into the nursing program. I was a major slacker in my undergraduate days and many of my grades are less than desirable. I've changed my ways and am getting all As now, and I hope they can make up for my poor performance in the past.

Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

PO: I understand what you are saying. At the College I am going to ( it used to be a community college but now have 1 BSN program so now it is considered just a college:confused:) I am just finishing my A&P II, and in both A&P classes there was no extra credit, no dropping lowest score, no take home exams etc. And, they are very hard!! My advice to you is to just keep doing as you have always done. If some of the students don't learn the material it will be them whom fail in nursing school. It sucks, but for those who are just barely passing the class, it will most likely bite them in the butt, if you know what I mean..

I think it is totally unfair to you and others who have worked so hard. Have you thought about what other people at your school who have a different teacher will feel like? Same school, but you guys are going to get off easy compared to the students with "hard" teachers. That is one thing that really irked me when I was in pre-req's. I always had the hardest teachers and then I could see friends skate by the same classes with the easy Proff who gave away tons of A's. We are all competing for the same program at the same school, it should be a level playing field so everyone has the same chance.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

My opinion on this is. The point of the class is to learn the material. Now if its a take home test then in order to get the answers right you have to know the answer or look up the answer. Either way you'll either get the answer right or not.

Not everyone will get full marks. You could complain about it and get it changed but unfortunately this might affect your social situation when you are in the nursing program. People will remember you and they might not want to help you out when it comes to turning patients and things you need help with.

Look at this as an opportunity for YOU to lock in your A. Remember someone else succeeding too does not take anything away from you. It does not make your A worth less. If you are good enough to get into nursing you are good enough to get into nursing school.

Specializes in School Nursing.

Copper- I have a feeling you're going to be celebrating your acceptance with us very soon. Just keep up the good work.

Copperismydog,

My dog's name is Copper too, he is a basset hound. But to get on subject, I agree with you and feel it is not fair. Our professors, even for the pre-req classes say that open book exams cheat the student because the NCLEX is not open book. My school has had a few issues with students cheating the whole way through the program and getting straight A's; then they bombed the NCLEX.

To keep admissions competitive you need to see what people are really made of and I think allowing this ruins it. I would be angry if a cheater got a spot over a B student who really wanted to be a nurse and got turned down for the program because they were average. Just my thoughts on it, the military taught me to be a team player and worry about everyone else. If we ignore problems we create bigger problems.

And my son's dog is named Copper, as well!

So... you could voice your opinion privately to your teacher, since you missed the opportunity to speak up when she asked the class. (Be bolder, girl -- your opinion counts, too!)

And if it is really bugging you, you could complain to the dean or the department head. (I'd talk to my instructor first, though.)

What's the goal of all these classes? To prepare students for success in nursing school. If they're not prepared, they'll fail anyway.

If these students aren't putting any effort into A&P I, then I doubt they will be able to make it through A&P II. Make your A on your test and know that there is more criteria than an A in 1 class. I don't understand people who try to convince teachers to make everything as easy as possible anyway, you all are responsible for this knowledge and at the risk of sounding cliche, they are only cheating themselves.

Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I think you should just let it go. Its not up to you to judge the level of competency for the class. Moreover, just because some people will get a good grade (as you will, I'm sure) doesn't mean you should go to the professor. It is not fair to the people who worked hard and still do bad. Maybe, this exam will put their average to a B or C. Why would you want to make it so they fail even more miserably than they already are?

The way I see it, you are just jealous and selfish. You don't want anyone to succeed except for you. That is selfish. You need to talk to someone because you have real insecurity issues.

I think you should just let it go. Its not up to you to judge the level of competency for the class. Moreover, just because some people will get a good grade (as you will, I'm sure) doesn't mean you should go to the professor. It is not fair to the people who worked hard and still do bad. Maybe, this exam will put their average to a B or C. Why would you want to make it so they fail even more miserably than they already are?

The way I see it, you are just jealous and selfish. You don't want anyone to succeed except for you. That is selfish. You need to talk to someone because you have real insecurity issues.

I fail to understand your logic.

The OP is "jealous" because she has an "A" grade and the others may or do not?

The OP is "selfish" because she wants to maintain an advantage come admission time over those who are not able to attain the same grade?

When you're pointing your finger at the OP, why not take a look at yourself and ask why you feel the need to judge her.

Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

I am saying she is jealous in the definition that she is being overly competent over others. Meaning, if she is having a high grade she wants to make sure everyone else doesn't even the ones who are getting a high grade in her class. I did not say she was jealous over the kids who are doing significantly worser than her.

I don't see how you're not registering my comment. She is being selfish for making sure that someone else is doing worser than she is. The way I see it she should not be so bias because I am sure if she wasn't getting that grade, she would be praising the professor for his gracious hand.

I guess you side with her and you do have a point but don't put it on me because I am stating my opinion. That is exactly the feelings I got when I read her story. I agree it is important to have an advantage for admissions but doing it by such a sleazy means...I couldn't resist to comment on it.

Pointing my finger? I am not pointing my finger. I did not go, "Haha you're being a baby because people are going to do well!" That would be "point-in-your-finger" or "in-your-face" response.

Why do you feel the need to defend her point? Why do you feel the need to judge me on judging her? Hmmm...irony.

Actually, that is NOT irony. Please re-read my post.

I never did judge you. I asked simple questions, that's all. I believe you were accusing the OP of judging the "level of competency" of the class. Then you accused the OP of being "jealous' and "selfish", which quite frankly, seems to be a judgment of sorts to me.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with working at/thinking at/achieving a higher level of competency than others. If were were all operating at the same levels, there would be no competition whatsoever for grades, and this post would be moot.

The claim that the OP is using "sleazy" means in gaining an advantage during admissions time does not hold water....

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