ECE 313 Grading Scheme
Grade Distribution Formula:
Scores will be weighted as shown below to determine your total score, which in turn,
will determine your grade.
Letter Grades:
After computing each student's total score we find the mean m and the
standard deviation s of the total scores.
Letter grades are assigned using cut-offs that
are based roughly
on a mixture of
- objective criteria (85% = A, 70% = B, 55% = C, etc.),
and
- statistical criteria (above-average scores = B or better, etc.).
As a rough guideline, we intend to award
- A's to scores greater than min(m+s,85)
- B's to scores in the range min(m,70) to min(m+s,85),
- C's to scores in the range min(m-s,55) to min(m,70)
- D's to scores in the range min(m-2s,45) to min(m-s,55)
- F's to scores below min(m-2s,45)
+ and - grades are typically awarded at the edges of the above cut-offs.
The percentages of A's and B's awarded in ECE 313 are comparable to those
awarded in 300-level required courses in the ECE Department.
Notes regarding grading practices
- The reason for saying rough guideline
is that we reserve the right to make minor adjustments
(upwards or
downwards) to each cut-off
if we can find a significant gap in scores. However, the enrollment is large enough
that significant gaps in scores are unlikely. After determining a cutoff we examine
the final exam papers of students just below each cutoff to check for accuracy
in grading. In effect, the exams are pre regraded. We do not artificially create gaps in the scores,
so around 5-10% of students will still have scores just below a cutoff. After the scores and
grades are posted, we will not increase a grade just because it is just below a cutoff.
If we were to lower a cutoff for one student then another student would be just below the new
cutoff, etc. Whatever we do, there will be students just below the actual cutoffs.
- Regardless of your exam performance and the settings of the
cut-offs, however, you will receive the same grade as everyone who has
the same total score as you, and nobody who has a lower
total score will receive a higher grade than you.
