M255 &Random 02 Aug 2007 11:13 am
Curious Things
Curious things you notice when reading exam feedback and such. In the case of M255, it appears that 2 people turned up for the exam, filled in their names & PIs to register that they were actually there, and then didn’t bother answering any questions (724 students “took” the exam, 722 gained a score in one of the parts; I assume the 2 that got an overall ‘G’ on the University Scale were the two that didn’t bother).
I can’t help but wonder: Why!? If you’re so past caring that you don’t even attempt a question, why bother turning up, as a no-show is the same as a nul-points in the end – and I can’t see the exam paper having been so scary to anyone that they couldn’t attempt anything.
One of those questions that’s destined to remain unanswered, but definitely made me curious…
on 19 Aug 2007 at 15:54 1.John Kee said …
I think it gives the student the chance to resit the exam. If you had felt that your TMA score were great but due to lack of revision your exam score in low 40′s some people are happier to resit. I thought you had to get 15% or so so probably picked 4 multiple choice questions they were certain of and answered them . If you pass the exam and TMAs you cant retake the course no matter what.
It could also be a condition on funding from a sponsor that the student must attend the exam. A person may have found that it just was not their cup of tea.
A few years ago for some of the maths course there was a stop press which stated along the lines of turning up for the exam gives the OU more govt. funding. If you don’t turn up the student is classed as not finishing the course hence less money for the OU. So perhaps they were supporting the OU