Final answer:
The escape mechanism a student is using when they blame a failed written test on the instruction received is rationalization, which allows them to avoid acknowledging personal responsibility for the failure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a student fails a written test and blames it on the instruction received, the escape mechanism is likely rationalization. Rationalization is a defense mechanism where a person tries to justify or rationalize their behaviors or feelings in a plausible manner to avoid the true explanation for their actions. In the scenario described, the student is using rationalization to explain the poor performance on the test, suggesting that it's not due to their own lack of understanding or effort, but rather the fault of the instruction they were given.