Re-Test and Corrections Policy
Re-Tests
I use re-tests to allow for students to demonstrate that they have expanded their understanding of the course material. Students who have done poorly on a section of the course need to re-visit and re-learn the material that they have not processed properly. Re-tests allow students to check to see if they have re-learned the material properly before facing the Mid-Term exams. Students must not get into the habit of relying on retest, so I place a limit of 2 re-tests per course.
- Students are given the opportunity to re-test 2 of their unit tests that were written throughout the semester.
- Students may re-test one unit test from the first term of the course and one unit test from the second term of the course.
- I may or may not have review material that students must complete to qualify to write the retests.
- The Mid-Term exams are not re-testable.
- I will take the better mark of the two tests (original or re-test).
- The re-tests will occur during classtime or outside of classtime on a day chosen by me before the Mid-Term exams.
- Students have the one opportunity to take the re-test each term.
Corrections
Corrections are the most important thing that a student can do to excel in a course. I allow corrections to be done on all tests (except the final exam). Corrections allow a student to go back over their tests and see what mistakes they made and learn what the correct answers are. Corrections boost understanding and confidence with the material which leads to greater knowledge. I do have a specific corrections policy which pushes students to maximize their learning while doing corrections. For me, corrections are NOT about improving grades: corrections are about students learning what they didn't know or didn't know correctly.
- Corrections MUST be done on a separate piece of paper which is then stapled to the original test when handed in.
- Corrections do not need to have the original question re-written out word for word, but they MUST include enough information so that I can identify what was being asked in the question.
- Each questions that is corrected MUST have the original score for that question beside it in the margin telling me what you scored AND what the question was out of. (example 3/5)
- Corrections for multiple-choice questions MUST include the reason(s) why that answer is the right answer. A sentence or two for science questions and a worked out solution for math questions. Do not just put the correct answer / letter down. You are learning nothing by doing that so you will receive no credit.
- Corrections for fill-in-the-blank questions MUST include an accurate reason for why the correct answer is the correct answer!
- Corrections for long answer / equation solutions MUST be a full solution for the problem. You need to show me what was needed from start to finish.
- Questions that are well-answered will be credited as corrections marks. These marks will 'count' as +1/3 of a mark towards the original test score.
- Corrections will appear as a separate line item on Integrade print-out sheets so that you can see the original score, tell if corrections have been completed, and determine how many were answered successfully. (Integrade then automatically works the corrections into the student's overall grade.)
- Students have until the day before the next test to hand their corrections in. In order to be of the greatest learning value, corrections should be done as soon as possible after receiving the test back. Also, I do not want students trying to rush and do corrections when they should be studying for other tests.