Math 150
How Are The Grades Calculated?

Overview

Your final grade is based on your overall percentage. We add up all points from homeworks and exams, and convert that to a percentage. At the end of the semester, we add up to 3% of extra credit. Grade cutoffs are listed farther down.

#
Assignment
points each
points total
 
% each
% total
 
12
Homework
40
480
 
2.7%
32.0%
 
4
Excel Homework
15
60
 
1.0%
4.0%
 
4
Practice Quiz
10
40
 
0.7%
2.7%
 
1
Practice Final
20
20
 
1.3%
1.3%
 
 
HW Total
   
600
   
40.0%
4
Quiz
150
600
 
10.0%
40.0%
 
1
Final Exam
300
300
 
20.0%
20.0%
 
 
Exam Total
   
900
   
60.0%
1
complete all HW
with 80%+ score
     
1.0%
1.0%
 
1
complete all Exams
with 50%+ score
     
1.0%
1.0%
 
1
complete course
evaluation survey
     
1.0%
1.0%
 
 
Extra Credit
         
3.0%
 
Course Total
   
1500
   
103.0%

Grade Cutoffs

cutoff
grade
0.0%
F
60.0%
D
66.6%
C-
70.0%
C
73.3%
C+
76.6%
B-
80.0%
B
83.3%
B+
86.6%
A-
90.0%
A

In a class of 20 or 30 students, most instructors look for a reasonable gap as a grade cutoff. If three students have scores of 81%, 89%, 90%, the instructor would most likely put the cutoff for an A or A- at 89% instead of 90%.

However, Math 150 has anywhere from 600 to over 1000 students. There are no gaps in the scores. There will always be someone just a fraction of a percent below the cutoff. If we move one person up to the next category, the next person below them will come and ask. We don't move the cutoffs.

Also, there is no rounding up involved in computing the scores. If you have 79.99%, that is a B-, not a B.

The only way to move up is to earn more points. Can you redo an assignment to get a few extra points?

The registrar's current rules say that we have to give straight Ds for midterm grades, and then we can give D+/D/D- for final grades. We are not set up for two different grading systems. If and when the registrar switches to the D+/D/D- scheme for all grades, we will switch.

Estimating Your Current Score

MyMathLab has a tool labeled Overall Score, but it was so misleading that we disabled it. Download a Math 150 Grade Estimator spreadsheet, and enter your scores. That will give you your actual current score. Your midterm and final grades will be based on the same calculations.


Last updated: Sunday, January 11, 2009