Challenges met
and problems solved
Return to main page
Return to Step 7 in main page
1. Before the exam – for ease, efficiency, and adaptibility
a. Making exams that cover the material but have a
predetermined number of points
b. Making exams fit the time allowed
c. Making exams for different sections equivalent in value
d. Making exams proportionate in value to the amount of
material required for the exam
e. Adjusting the size or value of exams when the semester
gets off schedule (usually behind schedule)
f. Adding or deleting exams during the semester
2. After the exam – for accuracy and fairness
a. Making the grades representative of their meaning (e.g.,
as defined by you or by your institution)
b. "Curving"
c. Adjusting for bad questions
d. Adjusting for unusual test conditions
e. Allowing for "extra credit" questions
f. Adjusting for differences among different sections
g. Adjusting for legitimate student feedback and
constructive criticisms
3. Make-up exams – for ease and equity
a. Preparing make-up exams with the same number of points as
the original exam
b. Equating performance on a make-up exam with performance
on the original exam
4. Calculating grades – for clarity, predictability, and accuracy
a. Informing students of their level of achievement all
during the course
b. Informing students of what they have to "get on the
next tests" or "get on the final exam" to end up with a specific
grade
c. Determining an accurate and precise numerical value for
each student regardless of how well or how poorly a student does during the
semester
Return to main page
Return to Step 7 in main page
Factors for which I make adjustments
Amount of material covered prior to the exam
Difficulty of material
Nature and quality of my presentations
Curving to achieve a certain number or percentage of
students in each grade range (I usually do not do this.)
Bad questions or easy questions
Unusual test conditions
Extra credit questions
Differences among different classes or sections of the same
course
Student feedback about the exam (e.g., "You told us to
omit that section or the notes".)
Return to main page
Return to Step 7 in main page
© Copyright
2020: Augustine G. DiGiovanna, Ph.D., Salisbury, Maryland
The materials on
this site are licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 .
https://www.biologyofhumanaging.com/Figures/CC-BY-NS-SA%20image.jpg
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
This
license requires that reusers give credit to the
creator. It allows reusers to distribute, remix,
adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, for noncommercial
purposes only. If others modify or adapt the material, they must license the
modified material under identical terms.
Previous print editions of the text Human Aging: Biological Perspectives are ©
Copyright 2000, 1994 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and 2020 by Augustine
DiGiovanna.
View License Deed | View Legal Code