How would you handle this?

My son is very bright. He was recently absent for a science test. He and a few other students had to do a make up test. They were given scales to use. About halfway through the test my son got to a problem and realized that the scale was not working properly. He brought it to the teacher, the teacher showed him how to reset the scale and he finished the test.

He got the test back on Friday and he was deducted 15 points due to errors related to the broken scale. He and two other students who had similar issues brought it to the teachers attention that they shouldn't have gotten so many points deducted because they had been using broken scales. These three students were all students taking the make up test. None of the scales during the original test were broken. The teacher gave them back partial credit for the math that they used during the exam but wouldn't give them points back for misreading the scale. They all misread the scale because the scale was broken.

I emailed the teacher and asked what happened because I wanted to make sure my son was explaining it correctly. The teacher said that he couldn't give them back full credit because they should have gone back and checked all of the problems that they had use the scale for.

He has had 100 on every science test ever in school since they started science tests. He is in 4th grade. With the partial credit back he got a 90 on this exam. Now, normally I wouldn't care, however this years scores determine if they get accepted to Science Enrichment in 5th grade. I am fairly certain that this will bring his average down enough that he may not qualify now.

While I do agree with the teacher that he should have gone back to the other problems and corrected them, I also think it's unfair that he was not explicitly told to do so. Not to mention, none of the three kids that this happened to went back to correct things from the point they realized that there was a problem. I feel like it's unfair for him and the other students to get marked down for this.

I am not the type of parent to make a stink about something and clearly this is just one test in 4th grade, so if it wasn't for the enrichment factor, I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

How would you handle this situation?

Re: How would you handle this?

I agree that it’s not your sons fault and after the teacher fixed the scale should’ve said for everyone to recheck their work. However, the teacher did give partial credit for the math and I feel like compromised. I think from his standpoint it’s hard to give full credit on a wrong answer. Like is it guaranteed all the students would’ve have gotten them correct? The only other thing would be to retest them which to me is worse, the partial credit is a fair compromise.

With that said.. if your son got a 100 on everything - how will a 90 impact his qualification? Are you telling me the kids have to be perfect with a 100% to qualify? That doesn’t seem competitive but hard and unrealistic.

How many test has he had.. 4 100s and 1 90 gives him a 98 test average?

Message edited 1/30/2018 5:50:12 PM.

Re: How would you handle this?

Re: How would you handle this?

Message edited 1/30/2018 6:26:45 PM.

How would you handle this?

I would ask for a retest on the problems in question.

Re: How would you handle this?

My answer depends on what grade this is. Elem school,I would let it go and use it as a learning experience.
high school where it counts towards a transcript I may push harder, but I would push for extra credit not then grade changed.
The point of a test is to test. The students should know to go back and re weigh the items they measured before the scale was fixed, imho.

Re: How would you handle this?

Re: How would you handle this?

Okay someone has corrected me that the fourth grade scores will not be a factor for science enrichment so I will let it go! Thx for the replies thou!

Re: How would you handle this?

I have a DD who is in 4th grade and I think teacher wasn't being fair. It is reasonable to allow them to retest with instrument that was working.

Shouldn't the teacher have been responsible for making sure scales provided for testing were in working order?

Re: How would you handle this?

I have had to handle this for myself... at many different levels.

The thing that works best, IMO, is going to the teacher, not to argue about the points, but to say you are really hoping to get into the enrichment course and that you are worried that these subtracted points (for a broken scale) could keep him out of it. It’s a great argument if you keep all things filed and at the end of the year, those points made a difference. I’ve had this situation many, many times at much higher levels. No one ever “robbed me” of points at a future time. PLUS you prove yourself throughout the year.