I just got back an exam in my Retail Management class. Out of seventy questions, I answered forty-seven correctly. Forty-seven. That’s a whopping 67.14%, which is a solid D. I immediately soiled myself from anxiety and crushing defeat, until the professor announced that the high score was a forty-eight, and that he was going to consider that to be a 100%. In translation, my forty-seven out of seventy is now equivalent to a 97.92%. Upon speaking to the professor after class (like the true grade-grubbing dork I am), I was assured that I was “golden” and “had done quite well”.
There is something inherently wrong with this situation. How can a professor commend a student for only knowing slightly more than half of the material already taught in the class? Don’t get me wrong; I’m pleased with my A, because from my demented perspective, it’s not about the learning, it’s about the grade. Anyone who tells you otherwise is most likely one of those people who drive around with bumper stickers spouting crap like “Real beauty is on the inside” and “Nice guys finish first”. But as a teacher, I would be seriously concerned if my highest-achieving students were scoring in the university’s D-range.
As I am not a teacher, however, I am thrilled with my score. Hey, if you can’t meet expectations, just lower them!