Do most universities take off marks for stupid things like spelling, grammer, etc on tests and exams?

Answer 1

It really depends on the course and the school. You can expect to lose more marks for such errors in literature and language courses than in science courses, for example. But yes, you can expect to lose some marks for poor spelling and grammar.

Answer 2

Universities? You should be saying university professors.

Either way, the answer is a resounding yes. Look at it this way--you went to school for thirteen years to learn how to spell, punctuate, and use proper grammar. If you can't do that by now, how can you expect to learn things that are a lot harder.

Another viewpoint--little things matter. But these aren't so little. You say they are stupid, but in written communication, they will greatly affect the way you are perceived. Messing up your "little things" will make you seem uneducated and stupid--or like you really aren't trying and don't care. You want a good grade? Show the teacher you care. Show the teacher you deserve a good grade. If you sweat the little things and prove yourself interested, your teachers will often give you the benefit of the doubt, both on assignments and when final reports come rolling in. Those 6 points you needed to bump your grade from a B+ to an A-? You just might end up with the A- if the teacher knows you to have worked your butt off all year. I know from experience--it really does pay to have the teacher know you for all the right reasons rather than all the wrong reasons. And the little things can play a big role in determining that.

Answer 3

If you bought a program that was written such that the user interface was a drag to figure out and use, and the program was written so poorly that it didn't work well and took a long time, you would give it bad marks.

If you bought a cd of a band, and the singer was always falling out of sync with the band, and this and that band member kept falling out of tune with the others, and the lyrics were just nonsense, you would not give it very high marks.

Language is what humans use to explain and entertain, largely, so if you can't spell, and can't use correct grammar and your syntax is lousy, why should people evaluating how well you communicate your ideas and thoughts give you high marks?

Answer 4

First, the university doesn't DO anything - the person marking your test or whatever does. AND, the ability to communicate your ideas in any field is critical. It does not matter how brilliant your idea is, if the reader can't make sense of it. So, yes, they deduct marks for spelling, etc. and so they should!

Answer 5

Well, it depends on the school, I guess. But at my school, they never took off for a random spelling mistake or grammar mistake. They know that you are under time constraints and have had spell check as a crutch for years. Oh course, if you misspelled something that was integral to the the class then you probably lose a point or two.

Of course, if your entire exam was so misspelled, etc that it was unreadable, then you would have a problem.

Ask your professor for his or her policies.

Answer 6

Off course, that's why College Writing is one of the prerequisite you have to take, before taking major classes, for example
Chemistry, Business or any thing. How can you make a good lab report or a letter to an institution (I am talking about business correspondent, if you don't know how to write correctly
However, it can be different in your area.You'd better check the nearest college or university .

Answer 7

Yes. About the only exception is when you have an essay test where you write out the answers in a blue book. In that case, most professors will allow some leeway. In English courses or in written papers, it is pretty important. You will be writing the rest of your life (hopefully).

Answer 8

Yes, and they are not stupid things. An educated person should have a good command of at least one language.
P.S. It's grammar, not grammer.

Answer 9

Yes they do, and the reason being is because if you do not take the time to critique your own self for perfection in your own created works, how would an employer expect you to do the same for them?

Mediocrity should not be the norm.

Answer 10

They most certainly should. "Stupid things" like proper spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure are severely undervalued these days and passing university and college level students who do not possess these critical skills is appalling.