If teachers aren't against you, why do you get tests like this...

[xcellerate]

I love it when teachers tell you they aren't there to trick you...and then give you an exam full of tricks.

I just had my first accounting test and it was total bullshit. I spent maybe 4 hours studying and before I even finished the first page I already felt like I knew nothing.

For instance, on the last page she gave us a list of about 100 recorded accounting events and then asked to total up all the assets, liabilities, etc. So it goes like this:

A.) 415,587
B.) 405,874
C.) 407,225
D.) 409,258
E.) none of the above.

why would she put "none of the above" unless she wanted to play on that that small nagging sensation in your brain that says "what if..."

That's EXACTLY why it's ****ing there. She wants you to add up everything, and go "what if __________ really is/isn't an asset...then it would be E!"

Basically she wants to make sure you know it exactly 100% and are 100% confident about your answer, otherwise you may fall into the "none of the above trap"! But that's how all her ****ing questions were..over half of the questions had those vague, encapsulates-every-answer-that-isn't-listed choices such as "none of the above", "all of the above", "not listed", etc.

She tells us a few days ago that everything on the statement of cash flows will start with "paid for..." or "received cash from/for..." and then on the test today she asks us to add up the stuff that would be on the statement and she lists "4500 from a loan." The trick is that loans are listed on the balance sheet...but it didn't start with the magic words, and of course to make matters worse the multiple choice went like this:

A.)38,500
B.)39,000
C.)41,000
D.)42,000


I got 38,500 that would appear on the total statement, not counting 500 from the questionable loan.

So it could be 38,500 without counting the loan since it doesn't start with the magic words, or it could be 39,000 since loans are listed on the sheet, even though it doesn't have the magic words. She intentionally chose 'loan' and intentionally chose to word it exactly like that in an intentional attempt to trick us with her intentional multiple choice selection. Especially since it could be worded, "received 4500 from a loan."


I'm sure there's some accounting pro's out there looking at me like I'm a moran, and I very well may be. But the fact is I'm obviously no accounting pro and questions like these are designed specifically for people like me who may only be 80% confident about an answer, and she keeps throwing you curve balls to knock you out of the game.

There were just way too many coincidences with this test...I wish I could have brought it home to read the questions exactly, because the vast majority of the time after reading the question but before reading the choices I would think to myself "well it's either X or Y..." and then I look at the choices and low and behold, my thoughts X and Y are BOTH listed right there! and sometimes there would be a "X and Y" selection just to really **** with my head.

I know tests are supposed to be hard and everything, but this is just stupid, everybody I talked to in the class felt the same way. I think if you know 85% of an answer, teacher's shouldn't select answer choices that directly attack that 15% of your confidence/knowledge!

It would be like taking a movie class and you have a test on a movie you just watched, the questions asks what the main character's mother's name was and you remember it was like an "L" type sound...so you look at your choices:
Allie
Aliyah
Alexa
Ashley

the teacher could have just as easily done:
Sarah
Allie
Jessica
Martha

but of course, then the question wouldn't be able to trip up those people who weren't nearly 100% sure of the answer....

 

[Smoke]

I remember these questions, they are ****s for putting them in but it makes sure you're confident.

Or a failure.

 

[xcellerate]

it makes sure you're confident.

Or a failure.

and what about the gray area people...like myself. We aren't properly scored because it boils down to almost a 50/50 chance each question. I could almost always eliminate two I KNEW were wrong, but then I'm still stuck with the two she put there so it would do exactly this...make me stop and think and possibly trip me up.

I mean, I feel like shit this semester, I've never done this poorly ever in school before. My last programming test I knew everything except how to overload operators...and I take the test and for EVERY ****ING QUESTION we had to overload some operator.

 

[Lh'owon]

We don't need no education.
We don't need no thought control.
No dark sarcasm in the classroom.
Teacher leave the kids alone.
Hey, teacher leave the kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall​

Btw, your bunny has a pancake on its head. Thought you might want to know.

 

[Smoke]

and what about the gray area people...like myself. We aren't properly scored because it boils down to almost a 50/50 chance each question. I could almost always eliminate two I KNEW were wrong, but then I'm still stuck with the two she put there so it would do exactly this...make me stop and think and possibly trip me up.

Then you are closer to failing than succeeding, in my opinion.

Defeat the doubt my boy, and you shall defeat the teacher!

 

[Top Secret]

I say you should be happy that it's even multiple choice at all.

 

[Laivasse]

Smoke speaks the truth I'm afraid. In my secondary school in England we would have killed to have gotten multiple choice exams.

 

[Krynn72]

Basically she wants to make sure you know it exactly 100% and are 100% confident about your answer

OH NOES! A REAL TEST? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

If you are a grey area 50/50 guy on every question... then clearly you dont have an understanding of all the material (50% of it?) and therefor you should only get a 50 on the test. Complete bullshit tests are the ones where they give easy questions that dont make you doubt yourself. If you really knew the material then you wouldnt be bitching about supposed "tricks." Youre not supposed to be able to guess the right answer and then receive credit for it, because it defeats the purpose of the test.

 

[xcellerate]

OH NOES! A REAL TEST? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

If you are a grey area 50/50 guy on every question... then clearly you dont have an understanding of all the material (50% of it?) and therefor you should only get a 50 on the test.

...I think you misunderstood.

It's 50/50 because for instance:
The teacher says everything on the statement of cash flows starts with "received from/for" or "paid for".
I know that loans are on the statement of cash flows.
If part of the question says, "A loan for $4500" does that mean it's on the cash flow?

It's a loan, which belongs on the statement, but it doesn't start with what she said it ALWAYS started with, which means it doesn't belong on the statement.

Plus we have gotten similar questions like this on quizzes and she has never worded it that way, she has always worded it "Received from creditors"..and I know that because I DO have my quizzes. The quizzes were nothing like the test was. I know more than 50% of the material but then she throws you questions like this.

If you really knew the material then you wouldnt be bitching about supposed "tricks." Youre not supposed to be able to guess the right answer and then receive credit for it, because it defeats the purpose of the test.

I'm not trying to guess questions. After you read what I wrote above this you should understand that. It's not like I'm going into these tests without studying expecting them to be like, "Which one of the following would be considered an operating activity?"
A.) cat
B.) house
C.) money received from customers
D.) shovel

Then you are closer to failing than succeeding, in my opinion.

whatever, it wasn't just me...like I already said, everybody I spoke to in the class felt the same way, so I guess we might as all fail.

I say you should be happy that it's even multiple choice at all.

In the case of this test I would have much rather been able to write it out, because I can better phrase an answer in my own words, rather than trying to fit my understanding of some subject into her wording. If that makes sense....for instance, "working capital" is current assents less current liabilities, but she phrases it as, "the excess from net income after you subtract goods and services owed"...sure they're the same thing, but I would have NEVER explained "working capital" in the same way she did.

 

[Jintor]

In Year 7, we got a question asking how much soil was in a hole 45cmx50cmx300cm. Half the grade failed that question.

 

[Muffin Man]

In Year 7, we got a question asking how much soil was in a hole 45cmx50cmx300cm. Half the grade failed that question.

I see what you did thar! Half your grade needs to think about what they're doing a little more.

 

[phantomdesign]

All mathematical-based stuff should have fill-in-the-blank. PERIOD "Showing your work" is stupid as hell. Teacher's limited true understanding of mathematics can't account for or recognize alternative or more efficient ways of accomplishing a task. This is coming from a guy who easily got a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer science when he was 20.

Now? Well, I do everything from car design to 3D modeling, 3D rendering, mathematics, coding . . . and from my real world experience, I EVEN MORE STRONGLY hold to the fact that they were all wrong. My more efficient ways of doing mathematics translates into my code as well . . . also 3D modeling, car design, and everything else.

 

[Darkside55]

My professors in accounting had us do everything right there on the page, no multiple choice. It was easier in the long run because, like you said, they want you to go back and check everything to make sure the answer you pick isn't wrong.

For that specific question about the loan, personally, I would've just gone up to the teacher and asked her. You CAN do that, you know. Although whether that'd be a help or not...one of my accounting teachers, though he was probably my favorite on the subject, was always intentionally vague and wouldn't give you a clue anyway. "You won't have anyone to ask in the real world..."

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Exams suck...I crapped my Bio exam today and about 3 of the question I got wrong I truely didn't understand. The rest I knew 90% of and just crapped out, these things always do that to me; I do it horribley, look back the same day and KNOW I could've done it right and where my stupid ass mistakes were. I'd say 90% of things you would see as unfair are truely your own lack of knowledge, or your a crappy test taker. I think the key lies in actually being calm and recalling the material properly. Although a little less formality would be nice...right before taking it prof is all "CHEATING = DEATH, EVERYONE sit in every OTHER row, fill in ALL seats in that row. Only sit in every OTHER seat in the odd rows if other rows are full." Yeah, not anxiety inducing at all. I like chemisty exam more where you sit in every other seat in every row at least, not bumping elbows with people...

 

[Cheomesh]

If at first you don't succeed, you fail, and the test will be terminated.

 

[kirovman]

I was told that people tend to do worse at multiple choice than normal tests, because there's always an answer that sounds right, or is similar to the right answer. So people who are 65% confident can often do worse than people who are 10% confident and who are guessing.

You are either right or wrong on multiple choice, and when you have negative marking that's another thing. That's what multiple choice is all about.

 

[Kyorisu]

Although a little less formality would be nice...right before taking it prof is all "CHEATING = DEATH, EVERYONE sit in every OTHER row, fill in ALL seats in that row. Only sit in every OTHER seat in the odd rows if other rows are full." Yeah, not anxiety inducing at all. I like chemisty exam more where you sit in every other seat in every row at least, not bumping elbows with people...

Highschool exams are pretty much find your name and sit down. Uni exams are waltz in, show photo id, take test. Theres usually plenty of room between each person as well. If there isn't enough room your school/uni needs to think of using an external venue for exams.

 

[Operational]

and what about the gray area people...like myself. We aren't properly scored because it boils down to almost a 50/50 chance each question. I could almost always eliminate two I KNEW were wrong, but then I'm still stuck with the two she put there so it would do exactly this...make me stop and think and possibly trip me up.

A good question will only have one correct answer - it shouldn't matter what the other choices are.
I don't know much accounting but it doesn't seem like a discipline that should have any grey area's.

My last programming test I knew everything except how to overload operators...and I take the test and for EVERY ****ING QUESTION we had to overload some operator.

Ok, well that does suck, test should cover (however briefly) everything the teacher says it will (IMO).

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Highschool exams are pretty much find your name and sit down. Uni exams are waltz in, show photo id, take test. Theres usually plenty of room between each person as well. If there isn't enough room your school/uni needs to think of using an external venue for exams.

There's plenty of room, it's the retarded teachers and their system of seating.

 

[dfc05]

All mathematical-based stuff should have fill-in-the-blank. PERIOD "Showing your work" is stupid as hell. Teacher's limited true understanding of mathematics can't account for or recognize alternative or more efficient ways of accomplishing a task. This is coming from a guy who easily got a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer science when he was 20.

Showing your work is awesome. PARTIAL CREDIT.

I have a professor who writes vague questions, sometimes so vague that it's impossible to give a real answer. She'll also take questions out of the book and write them out, and then add in sentences that make the question not make sense anymore. Her vagueness in problem-writing is to the point where we can look at our homework and see, "OH this has to be a book problem, cause it actually gives you enough info to solve the problem."

I also had a physical chemistry prof, supposedly the worst professor in the university. One day he did an electrochemistry demonstration in class where he put phenolphthalein in solution in a petri dish, and a base was formed, turning the phenolphthalein pink. To solve our problem we needed to know the pH of solution, which wasn't given. We get to class the day it's due, and he says, "Yeah so you needed the pH, which you didn't have, but based on the PINKNESS of the solution, I'd say the pH was... about 8 or 9." But somehow I managed to get an 88 (curved to a 100) on the final by mostly bs'ing my way through the questions. It was funny.