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Retake Opportunities, Pass Probabilities, and Preparation for Exams

Author

Listed:
  • Giuseppe Bertola

Abstract

Additional retake opportunities generally increase the probability of eventually passing a given threshold at given competence, and decrease preparation for exams. Preparation work performed before the first attempt may increase only for very weak students, and may decline so much as to decrease the total pass probability only for very strong students. If additional preparation is possible before retaking a failed exam, it is optimal for students to make early attempts without much preparation. Some will be lucky enough to pass, and others will make many attempts after gradually improving preparation. Hence, plentiful retake opportunities reduce the reliability of exam results as an indicator of competence, and increase the cost of taking and administering exams for students and teachers.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Bertola, 2024. "Retake Opportunities, Pass Probabilities, and Preparation for Exams," CESifo Working Paper Series 10913, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10913
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    File URL: https://www.cesifo.org/DocDL/cesifo1_wp10913.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sequential options; information content of test results; graduate wage premia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis

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