Unfair Tests?

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I'm in my 2nd semester of a concepts-based A.S. degree program, and I have found more than a few test questions that have direct answers linked to readings outside our assigned pages for that specific test... like if we had assigned pages 1300-1400, I would find an answer on the test from page 500. Obviously, I am not naming specifics, but... why does nursing school test you on material OUTSIDE of the pages they assign? How are we supposed to know THAT information? Is this fair or should I report this to some agency or something!?

Truly frustrated... ><

Are these questions in relation to material that has not been assigned or covered yet at all?

If so I guess I would be interested in what these instructor has to say about these mistakes.

23 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

Are these questions in relation to material that has not been assigned or covered yet at all?

If so I guess I would be interested in what these instructor has to say about these mistakes.

Nope no relation at all. Also never covered in previous semesters either. Professor hasn’t gotten back to me and won’t acknowledge it in class.

Please tell me you're kidding about reporting to some agency.

Specializes in Mental Health.

Better get used to it ?

Specializes in Dialysis.
On 11/2/2019 at 9:58 PM, Orion81RN said:

Please tell me you're kidding about reporting to some agency.

I read that and thought the same, too. Wow

Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
On 11/1/2019 at 5:52 PM, EverConfused said:

I'm in my 2nd semester of a concepts-based A.S. degree program, and I have found more than a few test questions that have direct answers linked to readings outside our assigned pages for that specific test... like if we had assigned pages 1300-1400, I would find an answer on the test from page 500. Obviously, I am not naming specifics, but... why does nursing school test you on material OUTSIDE of the pages they assign? How are we supposed to know THAT information? Is this fair or should I report this to some agency or something!?

Truly frustrated... ><

Regardless of whether it is "fair" or not, it is definitely not something reportable to "some agency" - you wouldn't have a leg to stand on and even if you did, you wouldn't be doing yourelf any favors by making that move.

Not to sound like that stereotypical older "get off my lawn" type of person, but life is not fair and you better get used to things not being fair when it comes to your nursing school and nursing career.

Your best bet since it sounds like you already reached out to the instructor and brought this to their attention is to humbly seek clarification and suggestions for future test preparation.

Are you 100% sure that there wasn't additional assigned readings that were not in the textbook? Or that the instructor didn't mention it during lecture?

Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

Try reaching out to the instructor again. If they don't respond, tell them you are going to the Dean and then go to the Dean. The instructor does not have a right to test you on material that was not assigned or covered. Normally, if this happens, the instructor will give everyone credit for those questions. You deserve a response on this.

Specializes in certified orthopedic nurse.

A "concept based curriculum" does not teach content. They teach concept. So they can test you on any "concept" so far covered. For example, if the concept was "oxygenation" and the class used pneumonia as the exemplar, the test could include questions about COPD or even pulmonary emboli, (not taught, not read, not covered) to see if you grasp the concept of oxygenation, rather than to see if you memorized a bunch of pages.

In a concept based school you will always be tested on things you have not been spoon fed. The object of tests is not to see what the teacher assigned but rather to test WHAT YOU CAN FIGURE OUT. Sorry, this is painful but this is the wave of nursing school.

On 11/2/2019 at 6:54 PM, EverConfused said:

Nope no relation at all. Also never covered in previous semesters either. Professor hasn’t gotten back to me and won’t acknowledge it in class.

Go to see him during posted office hours.

On 11/5/2019 at 1:01 PM, Professor X said:

A "concept based curriculum" does not teach content. They teach concept. So they can test you on any "concept" so far covered. For example, if the concept was "oxygenation" and the class used pneumonia as the exemplar, the test could include questions about COPD or even pulmonary emboli, (not taught, not read, not covered) to see if you grasp the concept of oxygenation, rather than to see if you memorized a bunch of pages.

In a concept based school you will always be tested on things you have not been spoon fed. The object of tests is not to see what the teacher assigned but rather to test WHAT YOU CAN FIGURE OUT. Sorry, this is painful but this is the wave of nursing school.

Concept Education seems like a great way for shady for profit schools to fail a bunch of kids on random exams and blame it on the students. It's about as good as when my school decided to get rid of lecture and just had us do case studies. Most of the class failed the first exam as no one knew what was going on.

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