A Maryland community college student ingeniously exploited a loophole in his professor’s exam instructions, leading to a remarkable turn of events. Elijah Bowen, a 17-year-old student at Anne Arundel Community College, discovered a way to maximize his advantage on a financial accounting exam.
The Loophole
The opportunity arose when Professor Reb Beatty informed his students they could bring a “3×5 card” to aid them during the upcoming test. Beatty, however, neglected to specify the unit of measurement. Bowen, a student hailing from Friendship, Maryland, seized this ambiguity and created a massive 3 by 5-foot card, instead of the assumed 3 by 5-inch note card.
Bowen explained that the professor mentioned it in class first. “He said ‘a 3 by 5 note card,’ but he didn’t say ‘inches.’ Then, in every email that he sent to the students – he sends about four to five reminders – I saw that every single one said ‘3 by 5’ and never ‘3 by 5 inches.’ That’s what sparked my idea.”
The Big Day
Despite his clever plan, Bowen was unsure if his oversized card would be accepted. Undeterred, he spent more than an hour the night before the test creating his “card.” As he walked into class on exam day, his classmates immediately began sharing the moment on Snapchat.
Beatty, who arrived ten minutes before the exam, initially thought Bowen’s posterboard was a last-minute study aid. When he then realized that Bowen intended to use it during the test, he initially objected. However, after the clever student pointed out that Beatty never specified “inches” in his instructions, the professor conceded.
“I was actually very happy for him,” Beatty said. “You have to have a student with the intelligence to recognize the loophole and then have the audacity to put it together and come in and try it.”
A Viral Moment
Bowen was allowed to use his massive cheat sheet, but only at the back of the classroom – to prevent other students from seeing it. The unusual scenario left a lasting impression on both the student and the professor. “It was fabulous. I was shocked,” Bowen said. “I gave it about a 5 percent chance he’d let me use it.” He later scored an impressive 140 out of 150 on the exam.
Professor Beatty took the incident in stride, sharing the story on Facebook, where it quickly went viral. The post garnered over 28,000 shares, captivating audiences with Bowen’s ingenuity. Beatty promptly corrected his syllabuses and test instructions to prevent any future misunderstandings.
Lessons Learned
This story humorously highlights the importance of clear communication in education and the unexpected ways students can interpret instructions. Bowen’s innovation and Beatty’s gracious handling of the situation serve as a reminder of the dynamic interactions between students and teachers.
References:
ABC News: Student finds loophole to pass 1st test of the semester, to teacher’s delight
Teen Vogue: Student Trolls Professor During Exam With 3-by-5 Foot Notecard
Daily Dot: This student used a 3-by-5 notecard, but no one said anything about ‘inches’
Anne Arundel Community College
