Results from
various prior class exams (class sizes were 50-90 students)
As you can see,
the average exam grades vary from year to year but the distribution
of grades (the slope of the lines) stays about the same.
Grading:
Here's how I
calculate letter grades. I usually only assign letter grades at
the end of the semester, but I provide you with my typical letter
grading rubric so that you can get a sense of how they are calculated.
I calculate
the mean and standard deviation (sigma) for the class grades. The
average grade plus/minus one (two) standard deviation(s) includes
67% (95%) of the class, so this provides a useful way to assign
letter grades.In my classes, the average final grade is typically
a B+.
A+
greater than mean + 1.5 sigma
A
greater than mean + 1 sigma
A-
greater than mean +0.6 sigma
B+
greater than mean +0.2 sigma
B
greater than mean -0.2 sigma
B-
greater than mean -0.6 sigma
C+
greater than mean -1 sigma
C
greater than mean -1.4 sigma
C-
greater than mean -1.8 sigma
D+
greater than mean -2.2 sigma
If
you have an exam where you feel a question was improperly graded
I will look at it. If an exam is brought to me for this, I reserve
the right to regrade the entire exam.
