Grade scales for homework and exams

MAA 4211 — Advanced Calculus I
Section 16G0, Fall 2013

The scale for each assignment or exam below is created after the assignment
or exam is graded. These are the cutoffs that will inserted into the announced
grading formulas to determine the “raw score” cutoffs for final grades.

The cutoffs given below are the bottom for the “flat” grade, not the minus-grade.
(For example, if the cutoff listed for a B is 50 points, then 50 is a B; 49 is a B-).
The A- cutoff is 1/3 of the way down from the A cutoff to the B cutoff, the B+ cutoff
is 1/3 of the way up from the B cutoff to the A cutoff, the B- cutoff is 1/3 of the way
down from the B cutoff to the C cutoff, etc. (except that I do not give D-‘s; anything
lower than the D cutoff is an E).

A cutoff like “17.5” in a grade-scale does not mean that any half-points were given
to any student on the corresponding assignment or exam; it simply means that I
thought 18 was too high for the cutoff and 17 was too low.

Each average and median below was computed from the scores of only those students
who turned in that assignment or took that exam.


Homework

Scores (and cutoffs) for the different assignments are simply added together at the end
of the semester. Example: if there are only two homework assignments, worth 60 points
and 80 points respectively, and the “A” cutoffs are 50 and 70 respectively, then the “A”
cutoff for the homework component of the final grade is 120 out of a possible 140. A
student earning 55 points on each of the two homeworks would have the same homework
grade as a student earning 30 points on the first assignment and 80 points on the second.

 

A B C D class average
Assignment 1 (0 points) NA NA NA NA NA
Assignment 2 (41 points) 34
(83%)
26.5
(65%)
18
(44%)
10.5
(26%)
29.8
(73%)
Assignment 3 (45 points) 36.5
(81%)
31.5
(67%)
25
(56%)
20
(44%)
34.6
(77%)
Assignment 4 (55 points) 44
(80%)
35
(64%)
23.5
(43%)
15
(27%)
35.9
(65%)
Assignment 5 (43 points) 33
(77%)
25.5
(59%)
17
(40%)
9.5
(22%)
29.4
(68%)
Assignment 6 (45 points) 36
(80%)
27.5
(61%)
18
(40%)
12.5
(28%)
29.2
(65%)
Assignment 7 (48 points) 40
(83%)
31.5
(66%)
21.5
(45%)
12
(25%)
36.1
(75%)
Assignment 8 (0 points) NA NA NA NA NA
Homework totals (277 points) 223.5
(81%)
177.5
(64%)
123
(44%)
79.5
(29%)
200.4 (72%)
(without averaging-in
the 0’s for assignments
that some students
never handed in)

182.4 (66%)
(averaging-in
the 0’s for assignments
that some students
who are still enrolled
never handed in)

 


Midterm Exams

A B C D class median class average
Exam 1 (137 points) 111
(81%)
84
(61%)
54
(39%)
31
(23%)
82
(60%)
78.5
(57%)
list of scores
Exam 2 (133 points) 111
(83%)
88
(66%)
61
(46%)
40
(30%)
80
(60%)
84
(63%)
list of scores

Final Exam (187 points + 35 Extra Credit points)

A B C D class median class average
145 (78%) 124 (66%) 93 (50%) 68 (36%) 139.5 (75%) 142 (76%) list of scores


Distribution of final grades for course

 

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D E
Number of students receiving grade 4 2 0 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 1

Students continuing in my section of MAA 4212 in the spring will have their exams returned in
January. For other students, if you have a question about your grade or would like to look
at your graded exam, please stop by my office in January. I will not discuss grades by email,
but email is a good way to set up an appointment with me.


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