<p>I recently took a chemistry test which I received a B on and was given the test back during class. After checking my answers, I was unsatisfied and went up to ask my teacher why my answers were wrong when they appeared to be correct to me. His response "this number multiplied by this one doesn't give you the correct answer. Now take a seat." As you can imagine I was once again left unsatisfied. The answer I was referring to: 2.5 x 10^2. Above my answer in exponential form was my original answer: 250. So I went to my seat and circled my original answer hoping that I could convince him to disregard the answer in exponential form which was correct and only count my original answer which now had a circle around it. His response: "You changed your answer! Don't lie to me and tell me you didn't because you did! This answer used to be negative!" That's when I realized he was referring to the minus sign in front of the 10 when my answer was in exponential form which I had scratched off while taking my test. He then changed the B to an F and kicked me out of class after I assured him that I had not changed my answer and that the minus sign was always scratched off. Apparently to him it looks different which may or may not be a result of the circling of my original answer. My parents and I have emailed him numerous times but he refuses to change my grade back to my original grade so I have decided to take it a step further and discuss the matter with my parents, the counselor, the teacher and myself. Anything else I can do to convince him or my counselor that I did not cheat and had to reason to? Or can my teacher just screw me like this and get away with it without any evidence whatsoever? I know the information im just getting an F for "cheating" without any evidence of doing so. Please help</p>
<p>First of all, I know how frustrating it is to be wrongfully accused. You’re doing the right thing by talking to your parents about it and taking it to your counselor. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the “verdict” will be in your favor. </p>
<p>What kind of relationship did you have with the teacher before this incident? Would other teachers vouch for your integrity in their classes? If you can show that this is out of character for you, the administration will probably be more likely to listen to your side of the story. </p>
<p>If the incident becomes a part of your permanent record, I would recommend that you talk to the administration about whether that will be communicated as part of your transcript from the school. If it is, try to find out if there is a way to expunge it or keep it on local (in-school) records only instead. </p>
<p>This is the first discrepancy Ive had with this teacher and I don’t have a record of cheating. It will not show on my permanent record but it will drop me from a B in the class to a D.</p>
<p>Wow, that’s pretty bad. I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but you exercised poor judgement by marking up the test–even if it was only to circle something. You should NEVER write on a test after you’ve turned it in. If you have an urgent question, wait after class to discuss it with the teacher. By writing on the test at <em>all</em>, especially with the same instrument used to take the test in the first place, you put yourself in a really bad spot. How can your teacher be sure you didn’t make any other changes to the test once you got it back? He can’t be. </p>
<p>Yikes. I hope you can get this all sorted out. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but some teachers can and WILL screw you over for stuff like this–best to play it safe and just wait it out the next time you have a question. You need to talk to your teacher, now. Communicating through other mediums such as your counselor or parents will seem off. YOU need to talk, one-on-one with your chemistry teacher as soon as possible and tell him exactly what you’ve told us here. </p>
<p>Best of luck! </p>
<p>This is why if this happens, I always mark in pen in a different color than they used, so they can tell what I added.</p>
<p>But because he doesn’t know for certain that I cheated doesn’t that allow room for discrepancy?</p>
<p>Not really, because he thinks he knows you did…</p>
<p>Do you have other teachers who trust and respect you who could be your ally? This sounds very unfair.</p>