Appeals

An appeal should be filed when you believe you have a correct answer that was considered wrong. Please discuss your argument with another knowledgable coach or teacher before filing an appeal.

Making an Appeal

Consult the rules on the form of an answer before filing the appeal. Answers not in a valid form will not be considered.

  1. Use the meet contact information to get in touch with the chair of the Appeals Committee or the current President.

  2. File your written appeal on the nsml.org website.

See below for the official details.

Precedent-Setting Appeals

  1. The committee decided categorically that it could not deal with an appeal having to do with an oral. To change a score, either by overriding a judge or by contacting the judge is a remedy worse than the problem. It is the function of the judge to make the best decision possible. We realize that there is inequity built in to the oral event, but have decided that the experience for the students is worth any problems it causes.
  2. The common mathematical definition of “between” excludes the boundaries. If the boundaries are to be included, the word “inclusive” must be used.
  3. A recursively defined function equivalent to the correct closed form function is an acceptable answer, but the initial condition must be given, even if it is stated in the problem. That is, the contestant must tell us what f(1) is as well as how to get from f(n) to f(n+1).

Reponsibility for Appeals

Member schools are responsible for knowing the League’s rules regarding appeals and for submitting appeals in accordance with the rules. The host school is not involved at all in handling appeals, or responsible for answering questions about procedure. Any questions about procedure can be directed to the League President.

Appeals Procedure

Appeals should be submitted according to the following procedure:

  • The day after the meet, inform the chairperson of the appeals committee by phone of your intent to appeal. You should explain the general nature of your appeal at this time.
  • Within TWO SCHOOL DAYS of the meet, using the “Make Appeal” link on the NSML web site, you need to send a written appeal to the appeals chairperson along with supportive information (a copy of the test, for example).
  • The committee will render a decision as soon as possible after receiving the written appeal.
  • In the event that the coach is not satisfied with this decision, an appeal may be made to board of directors. Their decision will be final.

Appeals will not affect the outcome of a particular meet, but will affect league standings. Ribbons will be awarded to reflect the corrected scores, if necessary, but none will ever be called back.

Reasons for Appeals

Appeals will be considered for the following reasons:

  1. Grading error. The coach will be required to email a scan of the test to the statistician within two school days of the meet.
  2. Incorrect official answer. If the appeal is granted, all coaches will be notified within two weeks of the meet and all scores for all schools will be altered to reflect the corrected answer.
  3. Reasonable alternate solution. If the appeal is granted, only the students who filed appeals will receive credit for a correct answer. No other scores will be changed. A coach may submit one appeal on behalf of many students, but their papers must all be submitted. Scores of students who did not file an appeal will not be changed, even if they have the same answer as the student who appealed.
  4. Correct alternate form. If the appeal is granted, the score of the contestant who appealed will be changed. No other scores will be changed. A coach may submit one appeal on behalf of many students, but their papers must all be submitted. Scores of students who did not file an appeal will not be changed, even if they have the same answer as the student who appealed.

A list of appeals (except grading errors) will be sent to coaches as soon as possible after a meet. Any precedents established on this list will be used to decide future appeals.