I am currently enrolled in Calc AB and I had my first written test for it a week ago. I only got one question wrong. I’ve only taken normal math classes including regular Calculus and I’ve only had to box the answer to the question (IE f(x)=some value). After getting the test back, I noticed immediately that I got 5% of my score taken off because I did not write a complete sentence for the answer to a question which asked me to find some asymptotes. The teacher said I had to verify my answer by writing “Because of these two limits (or the three dot symbol), there exists an asymptote where y=some value” and not simply boxing “horizontal asymptote: y=some value”. Nowhere in the instructions did it say I had to write in complete sentences (besides the instructions specifically for a question asking me to verify using a theorem on another question). Is it fair for the teacher to do this?
A further 5% was taken off due to me not erasing some of my scratch work (even though I was supposed to show ALL work) that had “incorrect mathematical notations” (the answer which I got was correct) which was also not stated anywhere on the test. But I guess this 5% was fair to some extent.
It sounds like your teacher is trying to prepare you for the AP exam. For calc, you need to show the correct work, with the correct notation, and your answers need to be mathematically justified. I recommend you check out some of the sample questions and their associated rubrics that can be found on the College Board website. This will probably help you understand the grading system I assume your teacher is using.
That is exactly what he said to the class, yet he never said that in front of the class before the test to use complete sentences or whatnot. None of the other Calc AB teachers at my school require complete sentences on a normal test (this was NOT an FRQ).
Seems to me your are a really good student. He is trying to make you into a great student. Why not approach him and ask him why? At least now you know “his” rules going forward.
Generally, it would be good practice to answer questions in complete sentences. That will reduce ambiguity from an incomplete response. If are you told to erase scratch work, erase it.
It is all up to the school and the teacher. There is no “fair” even slate system.
No you know nothing worse than group projects imo. Where each person owns a piece, but the total grade depends on the sum of the group’s individual efforts.
1 person sucks your grade sucks, so imagine that, and that is how my daughter’s school is. Her part can be 100%, but “Bob’s is a 85%, Sue’s 91%, and Billy 77%” it is the average of the 4.
Teaches you to work well in groups Bullcrap I say!!
nothing worse than group projects imo. Where each person owns a piece, but the total grade depends on the sum of the group’s individual efforts.