Here's the problem – I'm failing one of my classes, not because of anything I've done, but because the teacher is so extremely strict on what she wants and teaches us things that isn't useful in the class. She spends a lot of time showing us how to do things on a calculator and then tells us we can't use the calculator on exams. The thing is I understand what we're studying, I am getting the gist of the course. So I don't understand why I am failing this course.

There is a solution – there is an exam online I can take that I can bypass this class if I make a good enough score on it. I'm just afraid that when I take it I won't make the score and have to retake this class again. I need an 85 on the test to be able to bypass the class, and last time I took the exam I made a 52. Of course now that I've had this class I may understand what I'm being asked better, but I just don't know. You can only take the exam once and whatever you make is what you're stuck with for a year.

I took a practice exam with 8 questions and made a 5 out of 8. That's why I'm nervous.

So what I've been juggling in my head is whether it's safe to ask someone about the exam. There are no disciplinary reprocussions for having help on it, but at the same time it's morally looked down upon and may be considered academic dishonesty. But I just want to pass the damn thing since this teacher I am taking right now has doomed me already.

I don't know what to do. I don't know who to trust. I'm afraid if I ask someone they'll report me. What would you do in this situation?