Dear Editor,

Extra credit. Why do some teachers offer it while others do not? I have experienced this inconsistency in my classes—some allow extra credit for missed or incomplete work, while others do not, and the reasons are often unclear.  

Some teachers think it should not be allowed because it would make the class too easy but if the class is hard then nobody is going to want to learn. Another argument that some teachers make is that if extra credit is always available, then students won't try on assignments. I believe that is true only if extra credit is always given no matter what. Extra credit should only be given if the student misses an assignment, not if they do poorly on it.

I believe extra credit should always be available because it can motivate students to complete their assignments and improve their grade averages, which enhances their prospects for college admissions. When extra credit is not an option, it feels like we have fewer opportunities to succeed in school, which negatively impacts our mental health. With extra credit, students are less stressed and can do better work on all of their assignments and even tests.

I tend to have better grades in classes where extra credit is offered and feel more excited about attending. The reduced stress about assignments, tests, and grades makes a significant difference. According to my research teachers agree. One teacher even said that extra credit opportunities create a positive and exciting learning environment that is beneficial to the student's mental health.  

Inconsistent policies like this can make it difficult for students to understand what is expected of us. If the policies on extra credit were standardized, then students would spend less time worrying about whether they can get some extra credit and spend more time focusing on their quality of work. As a student said on quora.com some teachers think not offering extra credit forces the student to do better on the assignment. This is not true because being pressured to do better on assignments is very stressful and when you are stressed you don't work to your full potential.