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• Part 1 of 3: Understanding why you were given a particular grade
• Part 2 of 3: Talk to your teacher about your grade

It is very frustrating when you have worked hard on an assignment or learned for an exam and still do not get the grade you expected. Before approaching a teacher to complain about your grade, you should carefully study the course syllabus, assignment instructions, and teacher's comments. If you still think you deserve a different grade, make an appointment with the teacher and prepare the arguments that you will use to try to convince the teacher that your grade needs to be adjusted.

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Part 1 of 3: Understanding why you were given a particular grade

1. Make sure you understand the assessment process. Grades can vary widely depending on the subject, the school or university, and the teacher. With a good education, however, there are certain rules that both teachers and students must adhere to. The teachers assess the quality of your work based on certain criteria, which must be made clear at the start of the course. This does not mean that you can never object, but in general it is your responsibility to meet the standards.
   • Unless the teacher has clearly made a mistake grading your assignment or determining your grade, the chances that he or she will change your grade are slim.
   • It's also important to remember that you have to earn a grade, and that you don't just get it.
   • You will not receive a grade based on how hard you work, but on how well you have mastered the material and have followed the guidelines for the assignments. Unfortunately, you will not receive any bonus points for your bet.
2. Wonder if it's worth the time and effort. Usually, it is not worth putting the time and effort into trying to get a teacher to change your grade. The process will consume a lot of valuable time, which you could better spend on future assignments and on other courses. Therefore, before you talk to your teacher, try to determine whether it is worthwhile.
3. Read the syllabus of the course. If a course syllabus exists, study it carefully before approaching the teacher about the grade you have been awarded. Read the syllabus carefully word for word, especially the sections on assignments and how grades are calculated.
   • For example, if you have submitted the assignment too late, you should read in the syllabus which rules apply to assignments submitted late. This can help explain why you were given a particular grade.
   • This also shows the teacher that you have read the instructions and have been careful. You will not make a good impression if the answer to your question is in bold in the syllabus!
4. Make sure you have indeed followed all instructions of the assignment. Before asking a teacher for a higher grade, make sure you have followed the instructions for that assignment properly. Read the instructions for the assignment carefully and check whether you have followed each part. You often received a lower grade than you expected because you did not follow all the instructions of the assignment properly.
   • For example, if the assignment instructions say that you must submit a five-page paper and you only wrote two, that could explain your grade.
5. Then carefully read the teacher's comments. Before you get excited about a grade, be sure to read all the comments that the teacher has added to the assignment. These comments often state why you have been awarded a certain grade.
   • If you cannot read your teacher's comments properly or are unsure that you understand them, ask them for additional explanations.

Part 2 of 3: Talk to your teacher about your grade

1. Depending on the type of assignment, check how accurate the teacher was in his or her assessment. Education is not always a perfect form of art and teachers also sometimes make mistakes, including when giving grades. Sometimes they have used the wrong answer key, or the teacher has misunderstood your statement. Maybe the teacher was still grading papers at four in the morning, or something else went wrong. To show that you are entitled to a higher grade, you need data, and that often means that you must be able to prove that the teacher made a mistake.
   • Compare your answers with those of your fellow students, or look them up on the Internet or with the help of other sources.
   • If a particular comment is incorrect for something you have written, the teacher may have read something incorrectly. (But it could also be that your handwriting is the problem, and not a mistake on the part of the teacher).
   • If you don't understand the corrections or mistakes, it is often worth asking the teacher if you can go through the work together. Depending on the school, subject, or teacher, your grade may not be able to be adjusted. However, the teacher will, if you approach him or her with the right attitude, often readily willing to work with you to make sure you get a better grade next time.
2. Make an appointment to discuss your grade with your teacher. Your school or university may have rules that do not allow teachers to discuss grades via email. Instead of trying to have a conversation about your grade via email, make an appointment to talk to the teacher in person.
   • Try to talk to the teacher after class. For example, you could say, "Mister de Groot, I am a little concerned about the grade I received for the exam. Could we maybe make an appointment to talk about it? "
   • Know that many teachers will ask you to wait at least 24 hours after you receive a grade before discussing it with you. That way, as a student, you will have enough time to carefully review your paper and the material covered and you will be less likely to react aggressively or hostile to the low grade you received.
   • Even if email is an option, a face-to-face conversation is usually best to discuss these things.
3. Be prepared that you may have to object in writing. If you decide to continue challenging your grade, most teachers will ask you to submit your objections in writing. You will need to explain why you think you deserve a higher grade for the assignment, and how the arguments you included in the assignment meet the teacher's instructions. It is also advisable to include the teacher's comments on your assignment in your written objection.
4. Always be polite and professional. You should always treat your teachers with respect, even if you disagree with them. Aggressive behavior or wanting to confront is unacceptable and can cause you a lot of trouble. Therefore, always address your teacher with respect, behave in an adult manner and never threaten a teacher.
   • You are much more likely to convince your teacher and get a higher grade if you respectfully explain why you disagree with the grade.
5. Ask the teacher to comment on his or her comments. Often you can clear up misunderstandings about your grades by asking the teacher to explain his or her comments more precisely. That way, the teacher will have the opportunity to talk extensively about his or her comments and you will better understand why you earned the grade.
   • For example, say, "Mr. Smit, I don't quite understand what you meant by your comment about my lack of organization." Could you explain that to me? "
   • You can also ask your teacher if he or she can explain to you how you could improve the subjects that you have not yet mastered well.
6. Emphasize how badly you want to improve in the profession. It is important that the teacher understands that you would like to improve your results for this course. During the interview, ask the teacher if he or she can give you some tips and recommend how you could do better at the next exam. For example, say, "I am really willing to do anything to improve my grades for this course." What exactly could I do better for the next assignment? "
   • For example, you can say: "Ms Aals, I want to do everything I can to improve my grade for this course. What exactly can I do to make sure that works? "
   • If you emphasize your desire to improve, rather than wanting a different grade, you are more likely to convince your teacher.
   EXPERT TIP

   Ask for extra points. Sometimes you can increase your grade for a course by earning extra points. For example, ask if the teacher can give you an additional assignment or have you write an extra paper that will earn you some more points. Just keep in mind that not all teachers give extra points in this way.

   • For example, consider asking, "Mr. Timmerman, are you perhaps offering extra points?" Maybe I can write another essay to earn some extra points. "
7. Ask if you can redo the assignment. This can be a viable solution if your teacher is open to the idea. Ask the teacher if you could do the assignment again. For example, you can ask if you could write a new paper on the same topic or on something similar.
   • For example, you can ask: "Ms Schippers, could I perhaps retake the exam?"
8. Consider getting the case reviewed at a higher level. You have to think very carefully about it before you start complaining about your grade at a higher level. Unless the teacher has made an obvious mistake, those above the teacher will support the grade given by him or her. If you really think you have a good reason to complain about your grade, make sure you follow the correct hierarchy. Check with the student affairs department of your school or university about the correct procedure.
9. Leave it as it is. Unless the teacher has clearly made a mistake calculating your grade, sometimes it is better to leave it in your best interest. By wanting a higher grade anyway, even if you don't actually deserve it, you're not going to make a good impression on the teacher. Plus, you can better spend all that effort you put into trying to increase your grade on studying for the next test.