Their behavior in preparing for a test depends on the nature of the test. Students develop learning styles that they expect to yield good grades. Some teachers feel proud when a high percentage of their students fail. They want others to believe that a high failure rate signifies a difficult course and an intelligent teacher. To a large extent, they succeed.
Some teachers believe that giving students low grades adds luster to their own reputations.
Such teachers may choose to include excessively difficult material in their courses simply to enhance their own self-importance. One way of guaranteeing a high failure rate is to present material that is too difficult for most of the class to comprehend. But the inclusion of material for this purpose stands education on its head. Teachers deserve shame, not praise, if their students fail to achieve. Teachers who take pride in giving low grades blame the students, not themselves, when course material is not mastered as quickly as it is presented.