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From: jab@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.college
Subject: Re: Grade Scales?
Message-ID: <12500004@uokvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Sep-84 21:58:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uokvax.12500004
Posted: Wed Sep 26 21:58:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Sep-84 06:41:06 EDT
References: <2100001@ea.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:ea:2100001:uokvax:12500004:000:1532
Nf-From: uokvax!jab    Sep 26 20:58:00 1984

/***** uokvax:net.college / ea!mwm /  3:32 pm  Sep 24, 1984 */
	A	80-100
	B	60-80
	C	40-60
	D	20-40
	F	0-20
/* ---------- */
This is a really kinda strange grading scale, also. Are you trying to tell
me that a student who misses 4 questions out of 5 still passes the class?
That doesn't sound like a reasonable system, either.

There is something to be said about "mandatory bell curve" methods of
grading: I don't agree with that scheme, but it helps with this particular
problem.

To be realistic, you would really like to grade the questions on the test:
	i) This question tests knowledge of the material (able to recite
	   theorems, apply directly, able to work test problem very
	   similar to homework problem)
	ii) This question tests understanding of the material (able to apply
	   theorems in non-obvious ways, able to generalize or mimic theorems,
	   able to work test problem by applying homework problem)

Then make the grading scale relative to the questions:
	i) To receive a passing grade, you must pass 80% of the 'knowledge of
	   the material'; to receive an 'A' or 'B', you must pass 90% of the
	   'knowledge of the material' questions.
	ii) For the second kind of question, you must pass
		25% - D
		50% - C
		75% - B
		85-90% - A
That way, a "passing grade" means that you know MOST of the material in the
course, at least on a casual basis; a high grade means that you understand
most of the material in the course.

Of course, I wouldn't like to be the one grading the questions.

	Jeff Bowles
	Lisle, IL