Sabotage? Failed by 0.1%

[gpnbe1a6]

A week prior to my final I calculated my grades and knew I needed an 80 on the final to pass the class. I met with my instructor to review the previous quiz. It was a test question that she said she would throw out because it could have been two answers. I didn't think about it any further until after I made a 79 on the final which made me fail the class. I needed a 79.5 to pass the class and I had a 79.4

I emailed my instructor. Asking about the test question she said she would throw out because if she threw out that one question then I would pass. She emailed me back and said "Sorry all test are final and grades can not be changed. I misspoke during test review regarding throwing out that question."

Is that fair that she can tell me one thing and then go back on her word? Especially when that one question will pass or fail me? What would you do in this situation?

[Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN]

Ugh - I had the exact same thing on one of my pre-req Bio classes.....had 79.4% and needed 79.5% to round up to an A grade. I wrote to the teacher, and she refused to round up, so I ended with a B for that class which was super annoying!!! I feel for you!!

[Miss.LeoRN]

It very well may be the dean who isn't allowing you the point. Is this instructor one of the programs faculty? Or an adjunct? In our program the adjuncts could say whatever they wanted but if faculty didn't sign off on it then it was a no go. Also, who wrote the question in question? Our exams were part test bank part written by faculty, or a mix of both. We only got questions dropped twice in my entire program; if more than 80% of the class got it wrong, and if the faculty member who wrote/altered the question agreed to have it dropped. If more than 80% of the class got it wrong the question was flagged for review. After that they determined if the question was suitable to the content and if the material was correct. If the question was considered pooy written/altered, too tricky, or manipulative they would ask faculty if they wanted to drop it. That instructor either said yes, or no the students should have been able to figure it out. Unless the information was completely incorrect you were never guaranteed anything,and even then it was a fight .

At one point the entire class failed a SATA question because the instructor changed a test bank question by removing the word *not* from an answer. This made the answer correct, but she didn't change the answer key. When we brought it to her that we had this right, it was even in our PowerPoint... She refused to strike the question. We had to go to the dean. At that point she removed the question all together rather than credit anyone.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

If all you can manage is a 79 on a final, you don't know your stuff. A decent grade on the final would have more than made up for one controversial question on a small quiz.

Re-take the class and if you can't easily pass (having already been exposed to the material) that will demonstrate whether you should continue.

Quit expecting people to be "giving" you your grades.

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

Is that fair that she can tell me one thing and then go back on her word? Especially when that one question will pass or fail me? What would you do in this situation?

Presuming that it is applied to all students then it meets the very definition of fair. In fact, it's probably more fair than if she had tossed it unless she offered every student the opportunity to appeal every question from every prior exam.

That one question did not fail you anymore than did that many other questions that you missed. You only scored a 79 on the final and since you didn't do much better on your other exams, you did not earn a passing score.

No one question failed you but rather the aggregate of your marginal performance.

What would I do? I would take the class again and plan to kick some serious butt.

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

You can't tell a student on thing and go back on your word especially when that will help me pass.

Actually, to consider your overall pass/fail in the class as a factor would absolutely be unfair. It has no bearing one way or the other.

The instructor, by his/her own admission, misspoke. It's unfortunate that you got your hopes up in error but it didn't materially change anything in terms of your performance and (presumably) preparation.

And I'm curious: Where is the sabotage that you allege in your title?

[Emergent, RN]

If you're having trouble with passing the tests comfortably, you will also have trouble on the NCLEX and will be posting " Help me, I'm on my fifth try and I'm FREAKING OUT!".

I vote for retaking the class in order to fully master the material. Good luck!

[Kristinetx]

I'm not even going to say if I think it's fair or not, because frankly, it doesn't matter. However, sabotage? No. It sucks to miss by such a small percentage, but one thing that I've learned in nursing school is that professors really do not want to fail any student. First and foremost is the safety of your future patients, though, and they also have to stick to grading rules set by the college/university. In my college, they've made it clear that if you are under the pass rate the cannot round like they would for a higher letter grade, no matter what. A 74.99% is failing, 75% is a pass. I think going to the dean over this will leave a bad impression by making it look like you can't take responsibility for your grades and your work as a whole, no matter how legitimate you feel your complaint is. Talk to the professor about any tips they have for next time, or to discuss where you seem to be weak on the material. I'm sure the prof wants you to succeed. They are not your enemy or your opponent; they're on your side- even if it doesn't always feel like it.

[Thanksforthedonuts, BSN, RN]

No I dont think you have a chance honestly. But you can try!

Things get said all the time, even in writing, and don't get upheld. Grades can always be adjusted till posted to the official transcript.

[Thanksforthedonuts, BSN, RN]

Duplicate response

[Thanksforthedonuts, BSN, RN]

I'm not even going to say if I think it's fair or not, because frankly, it doesn't matter. However, sabotage? No. It sucks to miss by such a small percentage, but one thing that I've learned in nursing school is that professors really do not want to fail any student. First and foremost is the safety of your future patients, though, and they also have to stick to grading rules set by the college/university. In my college, they've made it clear that if you are under the pass rate the cannot round like they would for a higher letter grade, no matter what. A 74.99% is failing, 75% is a pass. I think going to the dean over this will leave a bad impression by making it look like you can't take responsibility for your grades and your work as a whole, no matter how legitimate you feel your complaint is. Talk to the professor about any tips they have for next time, or to discuss where you seem to be weak on the material. I'm sure the prof wants you to succeed. They are not your enemy or your opponent; they're on your side- even if it doesn't always feel like it.

I totally agree with you!

[cbccern]

I know that at this point, it probably feels like sabotage but it isn't. It is upsetting and distressing to you. I believe that most nursing instructors want to see students succeed. Try your best to look at this as a life lesson and carry on. Retake the class and make every effort to learn the material inside out. Please see it as a setback, not as a life changing event. Continue to pursue your goal of becoming a nurse. This situation does not define you as a person. You can do this!

[neuron]

Be careful who you aggravate unless you're just about to graduate.

Some would say that if you're .1 % away from failing, that you really are not showing a mastery of the material and should take the class over. Don't aim for the minimum possible passing score - aim higher.

Yes, but they can appeal in a mature way. Aggravate? So unfortunate, instructors will do the very thing that they don't want done to them: Being thrown under the bus.