My worst exam moment !
By topffer
@topffer (42156)
France
August 29, 2015 7:03am CST
In my previous discussion, I told you how my classroom got the giggles because of a little verbal fight between the most terrible professor of my university and myself. A little poll I did after the course was that I had signed my death warrant with him for the exam.
The oral exam with this professor was in a little room, I was not reassured at all and I ended my oral examinations of the day by him. I was nervous and he did not helped me when he went out, pointing his finger on me and saying : "I need another Christian. The lions are hungry 
!" I entered and I mechanically closed the door. He told me : "Do you know Mr X, that this is a public examination and that the door has to be opened to allow anybody wanting to hear you to do it, or it will not be valid 
?" I responded : "Sir, the door is not locked, and there is a lot of noise in the hall.
" Then he said : "We should ask to Miss X if she agrees, as it is her turn now ?" The poor girl was freaked out, and all she could say was "I don't care.
" He yelled "You should care !" I opened the door to close the debate.
The subject was chosen by a random draw in a box, but as I was one of the last students for this morning, there was not a lot of papers remaining in the box... I had 15 mn to prepare it, when he was questioning the other student, and he asked a lot of questions about her subject. She was completely terrorized. By luck, I knew perfectly my subject as I had to write a paper on it for a tutorial class with an assistant
. When my turn came, I spoke about 10 mn, following the outline of the paper I had written before that I had dropped on a sheet of paper during my 15 mn, and he did not interrupted me. At the end of my speech, he told me : "Have you something else to add ?" No, I had nothing else to add. And he said : "Then, can I question you on another subject ?" That was not fair 
! I was supposed to be questioned only on the subject I randomly drew, but I responded bravely "Please, do it." And the question was : "Where are you spending your vacations this summer 
?" Lol, it was a way to tell me that I would not have to see him again in September for the re-sit exam
.
Maybe 15 years later, I was traveling in the same city, and my feet led me near the college. Walking on the pavement in front of me, I saw my terrible professor. I said "Good morning" and he went at me to shake hands "Oh ! my historian ! How do you do ?" I was amazed "You recognized me, Sir ?" He said "I never forgot your history lesson." He was friendly and we chatted 5 mn. I realized that his way to terrorize his students was only a mask.
Would you tell me today one of your worst exams moment ?
!" I entered and I mechanically closed the door. He told me : "Do you know Mr X, that this is a public examination and that the door has to be opened to allow anybody wanting to hear you to do it, or it will not be valid ?" I responded : "Sir, the door is not locked, and there is a lot of noise in the hall." Then he said : "We should ask to Miss X if she agrees, as it is her turn now ?" The poor girl was freaked out, and all she could say was "I don't care." He yelled "You should care !" I opened the door to close the debate.
The subject was chosen by a random draw in a box, but as I was one of the last students for this morning, there was not a lot of papers remaining in the box... I had 15 mn to prepare it, when he was questioning the other student, and he asked a lot of questions about her subject. She was completely terrorized. By luck, I knew perfectly my subject as I had to write a paper on it for a tutorial class with an assistant. When my turn came, I spoke about 10 mn, following the outline of the paper I had written before that I had dropped on a sheet of paper during my 15 mn, and he did not interrupted me. At the end of my speech, he told me : "Have you something else to add ?" No, I had nothing else to add. And he said : "Then, can I question you on another subject ?" That was not fair ! I was supposed to be questioned only on the subject I randomly drew, but I responded bravely "Please, do it." And the question was : "Where are you spending your vacations this summer ?" Lol, it was a way to tell me that I would not have to see him again in September for the re-sit exam.
Maybe 15 years later, I was traveling in the same city, and my feet led me near the college. Walking on the pavement in front of me, I saw my terrible professor. I said "Good morning" and he went at me to shake hands "Oh ! my historian ! How do you do ?" I was amazed "You recognized me, Sir ?" He said "I never forgot your history lesson." He was friendly and we chatted 5 mn. I realized that his way to terrorize his students was only a mask.
Would you tell me today one of your worst exams moment ?6 people like this
9 responses
@fufurinha (11930)
• Portugal
29 Aug 15
When I got caught cheating... on university.
3 people like this
@fufurinha (11930)
• Portugal
29 Aug 15
@topffer Yeah, I did. I was exchange a draft paper with a friend and the teacher saw us. It took a while to know what was going to happen to us but in the end the teacher was great and didn't cancel our test.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
29 Aug 15
@fufurinha You were lucky 
! I did this when I was in high school. It would have been possible to do it again during my 1st or 2d year of college, as we were many in the same amphi for an exam, but later we were too far from each other. Here if somebody is caught cheating during a college exam, the punishment is a life exclusion of the university, and universities are applying it 2 or 3 times/year just to show that it is not only a threat but a real punishment.
! I did this when I was in high school. It would have been possible to do it again during my 1st or 2d year of college, as we were many in the same amphi for an exam, but later we were too far from each other. Here if somebody is caught cheating during a college exam, the punishment is a life exclusion of the university, and universities are applying it 2 or 3 times/year just to show that it is not only a threat but a real punishment.1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
29 Aug 15
Exams 
Okay let me rewind to my Garduation Exams.
Exam on World Political Constitutions. It was one of my favorite subjects as I loved reading those heavy books during the nights. Here, back those days, we needed to answer 5 questions carrying 20 marks each. The time duration was 3 hours.
On the "ill-fated" day, I woke up at 7 and over the breakfast table there was some arguments with mom. She has high blood pressure and when she starts, there is seemingly no end to it. So I got irritated as I wasnt expecting this to happen at least on the day of an exam (and also there are other reasons that I cannot mention beyond this) and to avoid all further complications, moved to my friend's place (right the next house to where we stayed back then) and started playing carom with my friend. He and me were the champs in the colony and it was all known that we spend hours playing together. So, we play carom all till noon. I return home, have shower, finish off my lunch and knowing that I am ill prepared, I leave for the exam.
Exam starts and I keep staring the question paper as literally, the answers wont just come to me. After spending 30 minutes, literally writing nothing but my roll number and the date of exam and other formalities, I have nothing on the answer sheet. Then I started writing a narration of "events" that kept happening since the morning (something on the lines of "How it all happened" sort of.
And you will not believe I had written about 60 pages on it - My perspective, Moms Perspective, Teacher's Perspective, Examiner's perspective and what not 
.
I knew I am doomed and there was nothing that could save me, and as the rules those times did not allow me to leave the hall before the stipulated 3 hours, I had to sit there - no matter whether I wrote or not.
Okay let me rewind to my Garduation Exams.
Exam on World Political Constitutions. It was one of my favorite subjects as I loved reading those heavy books during the nights. Here, back those days, we needed to answer 5 questions carrying 20 marks each. The time duration was 3 hours.
On the "ill-fated" day, I woke up at 7 and over the breakfast table there was some arguments with mom. She has high blood pressure and when she starts, there is seemingly no end to it. So I got irritated as I wasnt expecting this to happen at least on the day of an exam (and also there are other reasons that I cannot mention beyond this) and to avoid all further complications, moved to my friend's place (right the next house to where we stayed back then) and started playing carom with my friend. He and me were the champs in the colony and it was all known that we spend hours playing together. So, we play carom all till noon. I return home, have shower, finish off my lunch and knowing that I am ill prepared, I leave for the exam.
Exam starts and I keep staring the question paper as literally, the answers wont just come to me. After spending 30 minutes, literally writing nothing but my roll number and the date of exam and other formalities, I have nothing on the answer sheet. Then I started writing a narration of "events" that kept happening since the morning (something on the lines of "How it all happened" sort of.
And you will not believe I had written about 60 pages on it - My perspective, Moms Perspective, Teacher's Perspective, Examiner's perspective and what not .
I knew I am doomed and there was nothing that could save me, and as the rules those times did not allow me to leave the hall before the stipulated 3 hours, I had to sit there - no matter whether I wrote or not.3 people like this
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
31 Aug 15
@Unforgettable_Raja Of course I am reading it ....so now we all know that you take risks when you take exams and manage to get through because the examiner was generous 
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
29 Aug 15
It is not bad to do something else before an exam to change your mind. One cannot learn many things new during the few hours before an exam, and it is stressing.
It is a very hard feeling when you don't know how to respond. It happened to me several times during a few minutes, and panicking does not help
. Here a student cannot leave before an hour, and I think it is good, as ideas can come after 15 or 30 mn. You managed to find something to do to spend your 3 hours. It was less horrible than to spend 3 hours looking at other students writing...
. Here a student cannot leave before an hour, and I think it is good, as ideas can come after 15 or 30 mn. You managed to find something to do to spend your 3 hours. It was less horrible than to spend 3 hours looking at other students writing...1 person likes this
@much2say (55320)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Aug 15
Oh my - I was sweating just reading that - ha ha! In my language school, we had to make a final "graduation" speech on front of all our parents as part of the process of ending our time there. I had practiced often, and we all even had notes to help us if we really needed it. The problem was my parents pre-wrote my graduation speech and before then those words were never part of my vocabulary (this was in Japanese). And my notes only had keywords. So when I went to speak, I was ok until a particular sentence (which was actually quite complex) and I couldn't think of the words . . . it wasn't in my notes. I must have repeated the starting words like 5 times (basically like saying, uh uh uh, um, uh . . ) and it was quite embarrassing. My mother was there too and it must have been a bit humiliating to her too. And then silence. I backtracked a bit and finally remembered what I was to say - but still it broke the rhythm of the speech. I just wanted to put a bag over my head!!!!
1 person likes this
@much2say (55320)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Aug 15
@topffer That fumbling moment seemed like an eternity! 
I could feel my face and body burning on stage - I just wanted to run away and hide - and wished I could go back in time to fix that moment (or erase it anyway). Yes, I got the applause in the end - but that was the courteous thing for everyone to do - I really should have had eggs thrown at me! I wish it ended there, but I remember one of my classmates making the comment afterwards that he thought everyone did ok - well, then he turned to me and said "You really messed up - and you had the notes in front of you!".
I could feel my face and body burning on stage - I just wanted to run away and hide - and wished I could go back in time to fix that moment (or erase it anyway). Yes, I got the applause in the end - but that was the courteous thing for everyone to do - I really should have had eggs thrown at me! I wish it ended there, but I remember one of my classmates making the comment afterwards that he thought everyone did ok - well, then he turned to me and said "You really messed up - and you had the notes in front of you!". 1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
29 Aug 15
OMG ! In front of your parents ? I would not have been at ease with my parents in front of me. We think that a silence in a middle of a speech lasts a century when we are speaking, but most of the time the public does not notice it, and in reality it has lasted 2 or 3 seconds. Let's say 5 seconds during your speech. What was important was to finish your speech, and you managed to do it ! I am sure you were applauded like any other student at the end of your speech, and that it has been a bad moment only for you
.
. What was important was to finish your speech, and you managed to do it ! I am sure you were applauded like any other student at the end of your speech, and that it has been a bad moment only for you.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
29 Aug 15
@much2say What a nice classmate! I am always a bit nervous when I have to do a speech in front of a public, and I know what you felt, but it was only a hesitation, and you certainly did not deserved eggs for this. If nobody whistled, it was not so bad than you think. Did your mother noticed it and told you something ?
! I am always a bit nervous when I have to do a speech in front of a public, and I know what you felt, but it was only a hesitation, and you certainly did not deserved eggs for this. If nobody whistled, it was not so bad than you think. Did your mother noticed it and told you something ?1 person likes this
@allknowing (135331)
• India
30 Aug 15
Teachers do put on that mask and they need to. After reading your post I doubt I can compete with that. I cannot say I had any that could be highlighted. Each time I walked into that hall it was the same fear of whether I would be able to answer all those questions.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (135331)
• India
30 Aug 15
@topffer In Chemistry for example we had so many formulae almost a thousand that we had to remember. I always depended on my good fortune that I will get what I would remember and invariably it turned out to be that way
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
30 Aug 15
@allknowing Lol, you are like me, you have a good nose It is probably not luck, but a better sense of observation. By example, I was buying duplicated courses from another university, and when a professor was emphasizing a subject more than in the duplicated course, I was working more on this point. Half of the time it was a written exam question. It is a secret, don't repeat it, or I would lost my aura among my old classmates : they are thinking that I was gifted to guess the exam subjects.
It is probably not luck, but a better sense of observation. By example, I was buying duplicated courses from another university, and when a professor was emphasizing a subject more than in the duplicated course, I was working more on this point. Half of the time it was a written exam question. It is a secret, don't repeat it, or I would lost my aura among my old classmates : they are thinking that I was gifted to guess the exam subjects.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
30 Aug 15
I have always been nervous before an exam, and it was perhaps fear. Each exam can be important for our future, and for those aware of this it is impossible to not be nervous. The French university system is quite free but very selective : we were more than 1000 during the first year, about 100 at master 1 level, and 5 admitted at PhD level, so every exam is stressing, and I was more stressed than usually for this exam.
.
. Fortunately, it never happened to me.
@Bill00Ben (19)
• China
30 Aug 15
That is a stupid story and i will never forget. Yes, In China, No matter you are in primary school, middle school or college ,every student is required to learn English. It happened in my first year of college. The first part of examination of English course is Listening, which in China is sort of like answering the questions on the answer sheet after listening several conversation through your own little radio with headset. Shortly before the exam, everyone is preparing the radio including me. Because there will not be listening record from the specified channel before the exam, i switch to other channel that is broadcasting music and songs exactly i love. the music is so wonderful that i can not remember the time for a long time. When i realize something, i switch to specified channel , there is just one minute left of the exam record , it should be 15 minutes. of no surprise to you, i failed the exam.
That is my worst exam moment!
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
30 Aug 15
Sorry bill ben, I got the giggles when I was reading your response. Please, do not be angry with me. I want to thank you to have responded to this discussion with a funny (well, not for you) anecdote, and I wish you to enjoy this site as much as I do. I hope that this English exam was not very important for you, and that you did not needed it to have your final exam. Everybody can make a mistake, but this one was too much to not laugh, and it was certainly a bad moment when you realized that you had missed your exam because you were listening to music. At least it was not because of your lack of knowledge in English, as everybody can see that you are writing a good English.@Bill00Ben (19)
• China
30 Aug 15
@topffer Thank you for saying so. And I am very glad to be here to talk to your guys from overseas. As a ESL student, I hope my english is good enough to communicate with english speaking people like you! Moreover if you get any things about china (such as culture, custom,etc.) you want to know, plz let me know , i am willing to tell you my own opinion. In addition, plz correct me if there are grammar mistakes i make , I'll always appreciate that
In addition, plz correct me if there are grammar mistakes i make , I'll always appreciate that 1 person likes this
@Bill00Ben (19)
• China
30 Aug 15
@topffer According to our school rules, those who failed the exam at the first time will have a re-test. So that is fine, it did not cause too much loss except that i was not able to have scholarships. 
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Aug 15
My worst exam took place about 20 years ago. My French teacher and I never had a good relationship. She didn't like me, and I definately didn't look forward to her lessons. She seemed like a nice person when you didn't really know her, but her real personality was different. She was condescending and mean to most of us. She was good at finding our weaknesses and she used them against us. At that time I was relatively good at French, but during the exam she did her best to make me insecure and insult me. I got a B, and I was happy when the exam was over.
Several years later I met her at a concert. She greeted me and I greeted her back, but I didn't stop to chat. A friend and I went to the concert together and a few minutes later my friend asked me: "Who was that woman? And why don't you like her?" I didn't think that it was so obvious that I didn't like her, but I guess my body language revealed it all
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
30 Aug 15
I was amazed to see many people speaking French when I visited Denmark. You are a lot better than us for foreign languages.
I understand perfectly what you mean. I have had a young professor very mean for me during my final exam when I was in my first year of university. It was the first year that the examinations were scheduled by a computer, I had 8 oral exams, and 7 were the same... morning ! I ended with this man at about 1 pm. He told me that he had a lunch with friends, and he was furious to be late because of me. He asked me two questions and said after 3 mn that we will see again in September as he could not wait more for his lunch
. He gave me a 7/20, but I did not saw him again, as I had enough points elsewhere to have my exam without needing to go to the resit-exam.
He is retired now, and each time there is an election he is invited to comment on tv (he was teaching political sciences), and you know what ? each time I see him I still hate him for what he did to me quite 40 years ago. It is as obvious than you with your French teacher.
On the other side, I had nothing against the professor in this discussion when I saw him 15 years later in the street : he has been honest with me and gave me a good mark (I don't remember it, but it was a good one).
! I ended with this man at about 1 pm. He told me that he had a lunch with friends, and he was furious to be late because of me. He asked me two questions and said after 3 mn that we will see again in September as he could not wait more for his lunch. He gave me a 7/20, but I did not saw him again, as I had enough points elsewhere to have my exam without needing to go to the resit-exam.
He is retired now, and each time there is an election he is invited to comment on tv (he was teaching political sciences), and you know what ? each time I see him I still hate him for what he did to me quite 40 years ago. It is as obvious than you with your French teacher.
On the other side, I had nothing against the professor in this discussion when I saw him 15 years later in the street : he has been honest with me and gave me a good mark (I don't remember it, but it was a good one).1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
4 Sep 15
I have had such positive experiences with my teachers. Only once did I have a clash with a teacher who was so unfair.Thankfully though she gave me low marks for practicals I made up for it with my theory marks. I wonder how our meeting will be if we did meet now.
1 person likes this
. I would probably have not said "Good morning" if I had got a bad mark from him