Quiz Policy
No matter how many times I review my policy, I will have several students test my kindness. I typically have a 24 hour policy for exams and quizzes. I give a quiz each week. Without fail, I will have up to 25% of the class absent on quiz day because they know they can make up the quiz.
Hi Cindy:
Outside of pre-existing institutional guidelines, institutions usually leave it to the instructor for allowing make-up work or not. That said, what does it teach the student if we allow them the chance to make-up assignments anytime they want?
Perhaps the best idea is a compromise – if we allow an assignment to be made up or turned in late, it should have a deduction in value.
Regards, Barry
Hi Laura:
The nice thing about having a policy of “no make-up quizzes†at the outset of the class is that it creates an expectation for the students, and supports the importance of being in class everyday.
Regards, Barry
Our syllabus indicates no make-ups for quizzes, too. For test, it has been left to the descretion of the instructor. I have set up a policy and adhere to it strickly (so I know I'm being fair). If a student, after seeing the syllabus on day 1 with the posted exam dates, knows they must miss an exam, they are able to make it up with advanced notice. If a student simply misses an exam, no advanced notice - no make up.
Hi Valencia:
One thing to keep in mind - if students are allowed to make-up exams too often, they will come to expect that, whcih isn't how the world works.
In support of this, a lot of instructors use a "no make-up" policy, or limit it to the first time only.
Regards, Barry
Hi Michael:
That seems kind of like a mixed message! What has been the outcome? Do you let students turn stuff in anyway more than once? How does this make other students feel who get their items in on time everytime? Resentful?
Regards, Barry
Hi Shelina:
Most institutions are adopting a similar attitude about allowing make-up quizzes. It forces the student to be in class on a daily basis, and ensures limiting how much information will be missed.
Regards, Barry
Hi Sherry:
Many institutions are adopting a similar attitude about no make ups as a way of reinforcing more responsible behavior in the student.
Regards, Barry
Hi Carrie:
For the reason you describe, most institutions are going to a "No make up" policy, or at a minimum, have a deduction in points.
Regards, Barry
Our school policy is that quizzes cannot be made up under any circumstances. Our exam policy is that they can be made up. I have addended that somewhat in my classes to say exams can be made up IF the student has contacted me prior to class and let me know he or she would not be there. I also make it a policy that the exam has to be made up the next class session or not at all.
I like this idea however I'm not sure that I can enforce this as a policy in my classroom without students complining to PD's about being "mean" or just too hard. I will ask.
At the college I work at- we allow the students to make up work with a valid excuse- with one exception: quizzes. "Quizzes can be announced and unannounced. Quizzes misssed for any reason will receive grades of zero and cannot be made up. The lowest quiz will not be counted in the final grade." This is printed on the syallibus in the section of grading and evaluation. So, the students understand the consequences of missing a quiz.
I have the same problems in my classes and I have started to reaccess my rules requarding make up quizzes and exams. Reguarding quzzes there are no make up but for exams I will allow it only if the student has informed me prior to the exam day that they will miss class.
I do the same thing in my classes. Communication is the key. If the student communicates with me in advance that he/she will not be attending class and provides a valid reason, I am willing to work with them.
Although I state in my syllabus addendum that late or missed assignments can earn no more than 50%, I have an unwritten policy that if students let me know ahead of time that they will miss an assignment and provide an appropriate reason, I will allow them to hand it in late for full credit, provided that they do so ASAP.
This is how we function as well and it works great!
I must be mean because I do not allow a quiz to be made up. Only tests! I feel that they are an incentive to be here every day because they receive one every day we do not have a test.
Our syllabus dictates no make-up quizzes and I truly adhere to this rule. Tests on the other hand are trickier. I give make-up tests in a different format than the original test and minus 10% because it is a make-up. I also tell students on the first day (& several times throughout the quarter) that I will not remind them that they have to take a make-up, it is on them.
