STUDENT RAISE OF GRADE FORM
Dear Professor ___________________, my grade in ______________________ should be risen from
_______ to _________ because:
__ There must be some mistake somewhere.
__ I actually studied for this exam.
__ I was not well at the time of the examination.
__ My mind always goes blank during an examination.
__ This mark ruined my prospect of getting a scholarship/job/a life/a place in medical school.
__ This is the only course in which I received a poor grade.
__ This mark grieved my mother (or father) whose pride I am.
__ I knew the right answer but I wrote down the wrong answer by mistake.
__ I was unable to study due to the pressing demands of fraternity or sorority activities/political
demonstrations/sports events/jail/family crisis/roommate suicide/gambling debts/litigation/Weltschmerz.
__ Conditions in the room were not conducive to concentration.
__ The examination was unfair and unfairly distributed over the subject matter.
__ I have to work after school and nights; therefore I should be given a break.
__ I am married and have a family; therefore I should be given a break.
__ I am alone in the world; therefore I should be given a break.
__ I was under stress; there should be given a break.
__ I no speak English good - give me break.
__ I would have done much better if I had taken the examination given to one of the other sections.
__ The person I got the notes from had neglected to write down several key points and I should not be
penalized for his/her laxity.
__ Several people around me copied from my paper during the examination yet they received higher marks
than I did. Surely this is not fair.
__ The questions were ambiguous, and therefore my answers should be graded according to the reasonable
interpretations I made of your questions.
__ Many of the questions could not be answered with straight facts; they were mattes of opinion. I should not
be penalized jut because my opinions differ form those of the instructor.
__ I know many of the people in the class who do not work as hard as I do and who got a better grade. I am
recognized among my classmates as a good and conscientious student; you just ask any of them.
__ I circled the right answer on the question booklet, as you can now see, but when transferring the
information to the answer sheet I inadvertently marked the wrong blanks. Of course a University
student should not be penalized for petty clerical errors.
__ I have studied this subject from the broad philosophical viewpoint and therefore was unable to answer your
detailed-oriented technical questions.
__ I am philosophically orientated to the realm of ideas; I respond to the sweep and scope of the great
intellects. My work is beyond the interest in petty detail and parrot like memorizing of those who are
merely students.
__ At the time of the examination I was suffering from a severe case of cognitive dissonance and was
incapable of coping with the stress of the hour.
__ It is not a higher mark I seek; I care nothing about marks; I think marks are wicked and I disapprove of
them. However, this pernicious system of which I am a victim requires marks for achieving success,
and therefore I seek a higher mark.
__ Check, money order, or motel room key enclosed.
signed _______________________
