Shocking Optimism

Seventh grade had a test on electricity today. As always they could bring in a page of notes to use on the test, but they would only get a maximum of 80% on  the test if they used notes. Of 30 seventh graders, 7 used notes, and one of these still got 38% on the test. I realize that the information on electricity will play little to no part in the rest of their lives (except when they might have it in another science class), but just for the sake of your own ...( I don't know) ... peace of mind (?)  if you are going to make a page of notes, wouldn't you make the page so they answer the questions that you know are going to be on the test and so that you can read them.
There were another 7 students who didn't make notes and didn't bother to study. After the test while the class was working on the next study guide on magnetism, I called students up individually to have a look at their grades before next week's bimester exam. The school's grading program lets me put in grades and see how it will affect the final average. As I spoke with each of the seven who didn't study, I explained that the average I had for them didn't include the grade from the test on electricity that they had just taken. They all confessed that they didn't do well.  I asked them what they thought they had gotten on it. Some would ask me how much each question was worth and then with a thoughtful look on their face try to work out what they had scored. Others would just blurt out a percentage. Regardless of which approach they took they all thought 60%. The grades of the 7 ranged from 24-56%. When I asked what they wanted me to plug in for their probable bimester grade, they all wanted 90%.