Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around participants sharing their experiences with grading curves in physics and related courses. The focus includes personal anecdotes about the severity of grading, the impact of exam difficulty on scores, and institutional policies regarding grading practices.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants recount experiences where extremely low average scores on exams led to unusual grading curves, such as a 20/100 being a C in E&M.
- One participant mentions a case where a teacher deducted points from tests because the average score was deemed too high, resulting in a 92 becoming a B.
- Another participant reflects on a midterm exam in upper-level E&M with an average of 28/120, criticizing the teaching methods that led to such low scores.
- A participant shares a memory of an EE course where the average was only 12%, yet they achieved a high A with a score of 36%.
- Some participants express disbelief at the severity of grading curves, with one noting that their university does not use curves at all, maintaining a fixed passing grade regardless of overall performance.
- A historical reference is made to a first-year graduate quantum mechanics course at UC Berkeley, where the average score was 15 out of 100, and grading was done in increments of 5.
- One participant notes that they have not experienced any actual test curving, only final grade adjustments, which they describe as a mystery.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally share a sense of disbelief and frustration regarding the severity of grading curves, but there is no consensus on what constitutes an acceptable grading practice. Multiple competing views on grading policies and their implications remain evident.
Contextual Notes
Some discussions highlight the variability in grading practices across institutions and courses, indicating a lack of standardization. Participants express differing opinions on the fairness and effectiveness of these grading methods.