I am very stressed out because of this, i spend a lot of time studying and making sure i understand the material and even when i complete questions with the right answers … they are marked wrong for not being the exact samething to the letter (They want the answers to be specifically to their liking and based on what they do in class, even when the course material teaches it otherwise). I may have to retake the course. For those who have been in a similar situation, what is the proper way of approaching this?.
Math test answers being marked wrong even theyre correct based on the book, failing because of this.
Continued… we are approaching the final exam and i have a failing grade because on every math test the same issue arises. Regardless of how relevant or how correct it is… simply because the answers aren’t the same as what they have on paper, then they are marked wrong and no points given.
The way you are thinking and the way the professor are thinking are two different ways. It is not clear to me who is in the wrong. It could be that they say to show you work for how you determine 100/5 showing estimating, number sentences and whatever. And you just say “20”, which is correct, but doesn’t demonstrate you know the techniques which perhaps this class requires.
First talk to your professor and try to understand via the syllabus what they are asking for AND WHY. It maybe that there are techniques they want you to demonstrate. Also go to their office hours every tiem to get help
If that doesn’t work, What I would do is to try to get a third party involved. For example, can you get a tutor to help you learn the other way. Or could you talk to another math professor (if you have taken a class before) or even the head of the Department of Math to try to understand the pedagogy (methods of teaching) they are using so you can understand why they are asking for the specific method or, less likely, that the professor is doing some odd thing.
The main thing is that if the same thing happens for every test, why are you doing the same “wrong” thing every time?
Change what you are doing! Figure out what the prof wants, or if that is impossible, talk to someone in the department to make sure the Professor is reasonable, and then get extra help on doing it the way they want.
I agree with above. There is a format the teacher would like the answer in. Whether it is in the “simplest form” or in a scientific notation form. If you resist this instruction and do not do it, then teachers will mark it wrong. You have to understand how the teacher wants it and then present it that way. The teacher will always win in the end. No use fighting it or you will fail. It does not seem fair, I know, but life will be like this occasionally for you. Even at your job, You will have to make your boss happy. Right now you need to keep your prof happy.
Can you give us examples of answers you provided and what the professor wanted?