Challenging results from Public Speaking DANTES

[4q521]

Background:
Took my Public Speaking DANTES on 2-17-2010 and just got my results in the mail today. I passed the written with high marks and failed the oral. Reason given was I didn't take a side and that my evidence wasn't strong enough.

I was given “Drug testing in the workplace” I was “For Testing” and I gave several reasons why, I even talked about the opposing sides argument and why it's unfounded. There is no way anybody could listen to it and say I didn't take a side! Even the proctor told me “That was the best test speech he'd ever heard,” and said “Well you passed that part of it at least!”

I feel somebody either mixed up my speech or the person grading it just didn't like what I said and failed me because he could! The problem is I'm not going to graduate in June and I'm not going to be able to move on to my master degree in the fall because of this!

So here are my two questions; I hope somebody out there can help me....

1. What is the procedure for challenging your results and how long does it take to get the second results back?
2. Has anybody ever challenged the oral section and won, if so how often does it happen?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Joel
Placerville, Ca

[Maniac Craniac]

If you need, specifically, public speaking credits, you can look into Brigham Young University's independent study course. Obviously it is more expensive than DANTES, but it might be your last shot at graduating in June.

[ryoder]

It was probably graded by a liberal activist in California who wants to be able to get marijuana on demand and suffer no consequences.
My 2 cents, don't get overstressed about it and move on. This sucks I know but the BYU idea is a good one.

Sorry.

[FenderNed]

Background:
So here are my two questions; I hope somebody out there can help me....

1. What is the procedure for challenging your results and how long does it take to get the second results back?
2. Has anybody ever challenged the oral section and won, if so how often does it happen?

Joel,

Conduct a search of prior experiences. I couldn't locate it, but I know there are quite a few documented experiences in which others have challenged the exam and it appears that "most" end up with a passing grade once their speech is reviewed for a second time. There is a cost to doing this, but based on what you've communicated here, it looks like you have a good shot at a passing score upon review.

Good luck. I hope this works out for you.

[4q521]

Update:

I called Prometric in St. Paul, 877-471-9860 and spoke to one of their representatives. They said that from time-to-time this sort of thing happens. She said it came back as an instant failure because I didn't take a position; which is impossible because I clearly stated it at the beginning and at the end my position. Plus, everything I said was in support of the view. I even stated why the opposite view lacks any real credibility. So there’s no way I didn’t state a position.

There are five ways to get an instant failure.

1. Timing, too short or too long.
2. Editing, if they think it was editing by someone.
3. Topic was not addressed.
4. Position not taken.
5. Took several positions.

If you pass all those hurdles it’s then graded by the following rubric.

1. Structure and organization: (25%)
2. Delivery: (25)
3. Content and supporting information: (20%)
4. Effect/persuasive: (20%)
5. Language and style: (10%)

At this point it’s going to cost me $30.00 to have it reevaluated, but wait there’s more! Prometric’s has 6 people grading these tests. It will collect in a stack heading to one of the six graders until the stack is full; 10 – 15 tapes. Generally this take a week, it then goes snail mail to another grader who then reviews it and returns it back to the center. That takes another 2-3 weeks. If it passes it then has to go to yet another reviewer who has to confirm the second reviewers’ results. In the end, the best two out of three reviews determine the final results and there is no disputing their findings. Bottom line, the whole challenging process takes about 9-12 weeks to complete. 

So, if I want to graduate by June I’m going to have to change gears and go with the independent study option that BYU offers. The thing that upsets me the most is I’m going to be spending the next 2-3 weeks of evenings partaking in another act of intellectual masturbation just because some pot smoking liberal professor didn’t like my view on drug testing in the work place!

I’ll update my results once I get them back, but as a side note and a word of warning… If anybody plans on taking “Principles of Public Speaking” make sure you take the most liberal position on any topic given. These graders are a bunch of university rejects, who like Ted Kaczynski, sit behind close doors and pass judgment on anybody who doesn’t hold there twisted view of the world. It’s either that or they can’t keep track of which score goes to which tester, either way it’s totally unacceptable.

I think if I get a passing score from the two re-evaluators I’m going to file on Prometric’s in small claims court to get the cost of my BYU course refunded.

…Yah, good luck with that one! (*&$%&^#@#$*&^)

Joel
Placerville CA

P.S. Thanks for the BYU information you really helped me out on that!

[MA2]

It was probably graded by a liberal activist in California who wants to be able to get marijuana on demand and suffer no consequences.
My 2 cents, don't get overstressed about it and move on. This sucks I know but the BYU idea is a good one.

Sorry.

Haha... the more I read your comments ryoder the more I think we'd get along in real life. lol

[Arthiel]

Ugh, I had the same experience. I had one of my best scores but I failed the speech. My speech was pretty bad though so I was expecting a fail but I wish the scores of each part could balance each other out. I actually think that I might not have to take it again b/c I'm planning on getting a degree in History and I don't think PS is required. I hope not.

[MA2]

Update:

I called Prometric in St. Paul, 877-471-9860 and spoke to one of their representatives. They said that from time-to-time this sort of thing happens. She said it came back as an instant failure because I didn't take a position; which is impossible because I clearly stated it at the beginning and at the end my position. Plus, everything I said was in support of the view. I even stated why the opposite view lacks any real credibility. So there’s no way I didn’t state a position.

There are five ways to get an instant failure.

1. Timing, too short or too long.
2. Editing, if they think it was editing by someone.
3. Topic was not addressed.
4. Position not taken.
5. Took several positions.

If you pass all those hurdles it’s then graded by the following rubric.

1. Structure and organization: (25%)
2. Delivery: (25)
3. Content and supporting information: (20%)
4. Effect/persuasive: (20%)
5. Language and style: (10%)

At this point it’s going to cost me $30.00 to have it reevaluated, but wait there’s more! Prometric’s has 6 people grading these tests. It will collect in a stack heading to one of the six graders until the stack is full; 10 – 15 tapes. Generally this take a week, it then goes snail mail to another grader who then reviews it and returns it back to the center. That takes another 2-3 weeks. If it passes it then has to go to yet another reviewer who has to confirm the second reviewers’ results. In the end, the best two out of three reviews determine the final results and there is no disputing their findings. Bottom line, the whole challenging process takes about 9-12 weeks to complete. 

So, if I want to graduate by June I’m going to have to change gears and go with the independent study option that BYU offers. The thing that upsets me the most is I’m going to be spending the next 2-3 weeks of evenings partaking in another act of intellectual masturbation just because some pot smoking liberal professor didn’t like my view on drug testing in the work place!

I’ll update my results once I get them back, but as a side note and a word of warning… If anybody plans on taking “Principles of Public Speaking” make sure you take the most liberal position on any topic given. These graders are a bunch of university rejects, who like Ted Kaczynski, sit behind close doors and pass judgment on anybody who doesn’t hold there twisted view of the world. It’s either that or they can’t keep track of which score goes to which tester, either way it’s totally unacceptable.

I think if I get a passing score from the two re-evaluators I’m going to file on Prometric’s in small claims court to get the cost of my BYU course refunded.

…Yah, good luck with that one! (*&$%&^#@#$*&^)

Joel
Placerville CA

P.S. Thanks for the BYU information you really helped me out on that!

That sucks. If I were you I would do both... pay the 30 bucks to have it evaluated and just in case I would still take the cheapest public speaking class available... it sucks, but imagine how much more it will suck if they still fail you after the review. Just my opinion.

[videguy]

I am taking the BYU class right now. It's reasonably priced at $459.00 and not too difficult. I had originally planned to take the Dantes, but after reading the horror stories from people here I figured taking the class was the best option. Your story simply makes me realize I made the correct decision.

[Bunbu]

Public Speech is one of the few classes I knew I wasn't going to be able to test out so I enrolled at Clovis. I think I paid $120. The class was fun and assignments were easy enough. The only problem is that you have to commit for an entire semester, but this can easily be carried out while you prep for other CLEPS