Missing a final exam...
I currently have a student that purposely missed her final exam, and then after making arrangements to re-take the exam, missed that exam as well. I think that I should able to not pass this student, but she is using the excuse that her eyeglasses were stolen. It's frustrating!
Hi Sara,
You are right! If our students stroll in late for a test or final they automatically lose 10 points. Perhaps, your institution needs to put some type of policy in place to try to deter this type of behavior.
Patricia
Last quarter I have 2 or 3 come in an hour late for the final. The strolled in like it was not big deal. If they take this attitude at work, they will not have a job very long.
Sara Donevant
I guess I don't completely agree. I get about 2-3 students each quarter who forget to take it. Just plain forget to do it. I will average in a zero for the final, but that will rarely fail them. It will hurt their grade, (drop them from an A to a C) but the points are set up in my class so no single test can doom them to fail. I agree it should be worth a lot of points, but I don't think that one poor test score should ever fail a student. Its the homework each week that shows whether or not they understand the material. Not their ability to memorize it all for the final test.
I understand your frustration. My student will pull every excuses in the book to avoid coming in to take a final with the rest of the class
I have had students with the same issue. I gave them the opportunity to schedule a make-up time at their convienince within a couple of days. Most show up and complete the test, those that don't show are not wanting to take the test and cause their own failure of the course.
I don't know if they miss them on purpose or not, but the bigger issue for me is why they think they should be given a chance later when they have not communicated regarding the exam with me. The final exam is the culmination of the learning that takes place in the course - they prove they have learned what they need to learn - and if a student doesn't take the final, my opinion is that they should not be able to pass the class, regardless of total point value of all other assignments and activities. I think missing a final, on purpose or accidentally, is inexcusable unless there was a valid, serious emergency or prior arrangements were made.
Hi Jacqueline,
I only allow for a missed final to be taken due to EXTENUATING circumstances, such as death of an immediate family member, hospitalization, car accident, etc. Appropriate documentation also has to be submitted.
Patricia
Misisng a final exam purposly is what is being addressed here. If she has eye problems or glass problems get a doctors note or a show that you had an appointment to get the issue corrected. Missing a final on purpose may give an instructor a good reason to not pass the student or issue a grade that corresponds to missing points of the final. But be careful you need to prove its on purpose.
Terry, I usually give my students a timeline (exam has to be taken with 1-2 days) ask them which day and time will work for them to take their final exam if they missed the original day of the final. At that time I state to them if they miss this date (no excuses),they will automatically receive an zero on the final.
Yes, I still may have had a small number 1-2 not take their final but usually they were failing anyway.
