Get Your Students Hired
Should the make up exam be different from the primary exam if a student is absent?
@lotsal0206
I totally agree with you. There should be a limit to the grade due to latter date.
@ssamuels
Without a doubt, the make up exam should be different from the primary. The class policies should be posted in the syllabus and Portal. The test questions will be randomized whether it is TF, MC or SA. There is a grade deduction automatically for taking a make-up test. I have to acknowledge the students that took it when it was scheduled. If they had an extra day to study...would they or could they have received a btter score?
Michael Reyes
@BRUCE I am extremely strict about make-ups and it works fairly well! It is all over my Syllabus, My Portal, My Assignment Descriptions and on the board that I DO NOT ALLOW MAKE-Ups without substantive evidence/documentation justifying the absence as well as notice from the student in advance or as soon thereafter an absence for illness or emergency that the student can transmit a message. Illnesses happen and the first time around if they have not seen a doctor, I will accept an explanation-copays are a fortune these days! I honestly have no problem with this polich-they show up if they have any intention of taking the exam at all. I am actually very reasonable, but I definitely put a little scare in them. I also have perhaps a stricter late policy-late = 0. Contact me before it is due for an accommodation and I will work with you. If you can't make it to school-upload i (as is reguired for most work) or take a picture of it with your phone and attach it to an email. As an attorney, if I miss a deadline, peolple's rights are jeopardized. Again, this works fairly well when you are consistent. I am preparing them for the real world.
@ssamuels
Our policy is they are allowed to make up the same exam during the next scheduled class, but suffer a 10 percent penalty deduction from their score.
I think the difficulty level should be the same.
But I'm not sure if every quiz or test needs a totally different test for an absent group. My high school child complained that her AP US tests were more difficult and different if they were absent. And complained that only her teacher did this not the other AP US teacher. I think she might have felt more confident if the teacher was more flexible than so rigid. If absent the teacher only allows the student to come in before school to take a test nothing else. On a personal level I'm not concerned about the right or wrong or fairness on this. But what are we saying to our students if we do not trust them to come take a test during any time?
ANyways great discussion.
-Kelly
I agree with Bruce Whitmore wherein the level of difficulty should be the same. It really depends on the reason for the absence. Was it an unavoidable absence or was it a choice? And the points deducted will depend on wether it is excused or not.
@ssamuels
I beleive the make up test should be about the same difficulty, but usually I will deduct points for taking the test late or for re-doing a test.
I like the idea that a make up test is harder then the original test, reason being that it make students not want to miss the designated test day, or else there will be a higher standard to acheive for missing the day.
@lotsal0206
i do not penalize the students there could be a good reason why students missed death, accidents, family. we are here to teach not punish but if you see a pattern that they are absent on test days then do differently
@ssamuels,
It is important to differenciate whether we are incorpirating traditional or adaptive learning in the classroom or some hybrid of both. Adaptive learning allows for the make-up test based on the student data that has been compiled during the course whereas traditional, teacher based learning will require that the make-up test be exactly what the rest of the students took. This teacher based method does show its limitations compared to the adaptive approach. Particular to adaptive learning, we can see how the student engages in the learning process and learning outcomes are expected to be much higher. Based on the fact the tests can be random from a database of questions derived from the course content.
Regards,
Rich
In extenuating circumstances, in the past I have allowed a student to take a make up exam, and when it meant that others would not get an immediate exam review, but did receive their grades. Knowing the grade but not being able to discuss the incorrect responses and rationales lead to additional anxiety.
Do you have your students wait for their exam review until all have taken the exam? If so, what are the comments from those who did take the exam on time?
@lotsal0206
The make up exam can be the same but different. The thought of having two almost identical exams with the questions in different order can keep students from passing notes with the C, D, A, T, F answers. keeping the same test in different formats is a great way to switch things up. one group of students recieves one the next another, while a third version as a make up exam. This way you do not have to pentalize a student for missing an exam day (sometimes life can get in the way) but encourage them to do well and that you the instructor cares.
i believe that two different exams should be given out regaurdless. That way it is more difficult to cheat, and then the student doesn't know what exam they will have. This way it can also help to see if the way things are written on a test/quiz makes a difference of how well they are retaining the information given to them.
Yes Mrs. Sandra as long as the exam is harder than the original and they have a doctors excuse/legal document stating they were unable to attend class. Even then I still deduct 10 points for every day the exam is late. This encourages the student to always be there on exam day.
Susan,
Yes, usually there is some satisfactory and creative way to assess students who are examined apart from their classmates.
Barry Westling
Absolutely. Though we hope that students do not cheat we must do everything we can to ensure this does not happen. By giving a student that has to make up an exam a different version it requires them to do the thinking and processing of the questions on the exam. They have to supply their own answers. If the original exam was multiple choice, true /false and short answer questions, for the make up exam I use the same format but change the questions in each category.
Jill,
I try to consider all graded activities to my standard of, "what way will I best measure learning".
Barry Westling
I think make up exams are a touchy area. How fair is it that other students didn't have the extra time to prepare?