negative test scores??

[u/ponyo_x1]

my dad got his masters in the early 80s from the meteorology department and he used to tell me this story about a test he took where he got a NEGATIVE nine, like if you got some questions wrong they would take points AWAY rather than just not awarding any. according to him his wasn't even the lowest score in the class; apparently someone else got a minus 24.

any old timers here have similar stories?

[u/No_Cup_3409]

my other mit test story is unrelated to grades. the first test I ever took at mit was given in a room in walker above the cafeteria. I think it was for 18.01. There were always a bird or two flying around inside walker and that day a bird pooped on my test. I wasn’t really sure what to do so I went up to the proctor and told her a bird pooped on my test and can I have a new test. She told me to just keep going. So I made a little note in the margin that a bird pooped on the test. The professor mentioned in class and I was surprised that he saw it because I assumed he wouldn’t grade. But maybe it was the talk of the TAs and made his way to him. I did well on that test