On behalf of some of the students enrolled in Chemistry 1012, I would like to bring to your attention that we consider the final exam this year to have been unfair, long and excessively difficult.  First of all, solely multiple choice questions are an inadequate method of assessing one’s ability in Chemistry.  60 multiple choice questions, majority of which being mathematically and calculation based, is a poor way to test knowledge and ability. Multiple choice exams fail to allow students to show their work and their knowledge of the methodology. With multiple choice, one small arithmetic error will inevitably lead to the wrong answer even though the procedure and fundamental knowledge may be evident. As a result of this examination technique, a multitude of students experienced a significant drop in their grades.

               How is it fair that the grades we work hard to achieve in lab and on assignments throughout the semester are completely overcompensated by a not-so-good exam mark? A calculus and physics exam wouldn’t be 100% multiple choice, so why should Chemistry be? If our performance on an exam — being 70% (30% midterms and 40% final) of our total grade— is to be indicative of our intellectual capabilities as Chemistry students, it is essential that the material presented on the exam reflects the content we have been studying and practicing throughout the semester. You may state that the purpose of an exam is to assess the comprehension of the material, yet the exam demanded that we work through problems that we haven’t seen before, either in the Concepts for Chemistry textbook, CAPA assignments or lab. These components are to help us understand the material that has been gone over in lecture and therefore should be a representation of our knowledge in the field. So it has come to a point where the content presented on the exam does not parallel to what we have been exposed to in other elements of the course, therefore how can the exam be defined as an assessment of the presented material. Difficult, “curve ball” questions should be utilized to separate the A students from the A+ students, not cause a severe detriment to the grades of a large body of students. The length and difficulty of the exam was proven when the vast majority of the chemistry class remained in the Dalplex when the three hour mark was announced.  

               Additionally, investing hundreds of dollars in prep courses, hourly rates for tutors, 25+ hours into studying per exam (subjective to each student, I understand), time put in by both of you as well as the students in concept room, the grades we receive and the difficulty of the exams are simply unfair compared to the work we put in. With all the work, investment and passion our professors and the department themselves put in to first year chemistry, don’t you want to see a positive result?

               These severe setbacks have resulted in a diminishment for the passion and desire for chemistry that was originally instigated. Students have reconsidered their continuation in the Chemistry department solely because of their grades on this exam. This includes withdrawing from chemistry majors, minors and even classes. For these reasons it is of paramount importance that you reconsider the examination results of this year’s Chemistry 1012. For example having the exam be weighted less in our overall mark or a bell curve should be implemented.

We appreciate your time, knowledge and dedication.