If I find a mistake on a quiz/exam, what should I do?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When addressing a potential error on a quiz or exam, it's useful to walk through what each option implies and why it may or may not be appropriate.
Option 1: 'Make sure it is a mistake, and then tell the Prof right away.' This option emphasizes verification followed by informing the instructor, which aligns with academic integrity and ensuring fair grading. It promotes transparency and gives the professor an opportunity to correct any error. The cautious first step helps avoid falsely accusing the instructor if the issue is not actually a mistake.
Option 2: 'Don't tell the Prof, he might lower my score for begging.' This choice reflects a misguided concern that honesty could harm you, which is not a legitimate or ethical approach. It treats the professor as someone to manipulate rather than a gatekeeper of fairness. It also ignores the responsibility to advocate for accuracy in grading.
Option 3: 'It depends on whether the mistake makes my score go up or down.' This stance introduces a problematic conditionality: the decision to report should not hinge on whether you gain or lose points. Integrity in reporting errors means addressing them regardless of impact on your grade, since errors affect fairness for all students and the accuracy of the record.
Option 4: 'Nothing, mistakes on quizzes are not a problem.' This position minimizes the importance of accuracy and could allow incorrect grades to stand. It overlooks the potential impact of mistakes on learning, course outcomes, and fairness to peers who were graded under the same rubric.
In summary, weighing these options shows that the responsible path is to verify the potential error and communicate it to the instructor, rather than ignoring it, attempting to manipulate outcomes, or assuming mistakes aren’t important. The other options introduce ethical concerns or practical risks that undermine fairness and learning integrity.

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If I find a mistake on a quiz/exam, what should I do?

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