I'm happy with my final exam grade

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
I took an introductory microwave engineering class this semester, and it was rough.

The instructor says:
I haven't assigned any grade yet. I'm yet to curve the class. You scored 60/100..

Then he adds:
... i expect the average to be slightly lower than this.

LOL!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The average on the first exam was a 30/100. I got slightly lower than that.

*UPDATE*

I got a B. Rats!
 

Silex

Golden Member
Nov 24, 2001
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Was wondeirng how come you were happy you got a D on an exam haha. Most of my current classes are slightly brutal in that I don't want to put any work into it. Unfortuantely, I can't blame the professor or the class for that, hah.
 

Keego

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2000
6,223
2
81
I just got a 100% in my operations research final. 45% of the grade too!
 

sdaccord01

Senior member
Jul 9, 2003
291
0
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That's how engineering classes are, most of them are curved like crazy. I remember even my physics class that having a 45% is considered a C.
 

SearchMaster

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2002
7,791
114
106
I had a LISP programming class with about 40 students, many of them in their final semester. I got a C-, the minimum not to retake the class. I was one of 5 students that didn't have to retake the class. One guy actually made an A, another made a B, and the three Cs. I knew 4 people personally that didn't graduate on time because of that class. Needless to say, the teacher was not asked to return to the department (she was on loan from the engineering dept.)

edit: no curve at all
 

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
21
81
It amazes me when I take a class, everyone is borderline failing, but the teacher curves it every semester to give those students B's and C's. If that is normal, you would think they would alter the pace of class, break it up into two classes, or change the course outline a little. Otherwise what are we learning?
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Originally posted by: sdaccord01
That's how engineering classes are, most of them are curved like crazy. I remember even my physics class that having a 45% is considered a C.

<<<------Circuits....42%....C+....:thumbsup::)
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Originally posted by: SagaLore
It amazes me when I take a class, everyone is borderline failing, but the teacher curves it every semester to give those students B's and C's. If that is normal, you would think they would alter the pace of class, break it up into two classes, or change the course outline a little. Otherwise what are we learning?

most of the stuff you learn in college is useless anyways. It's learning how to learn the stuff that is important. No one will care if you know bernoullis (sp?) equation by heart. That said, I just learned nVidea requires only a 2.0 to do a coop there:)
 

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
The instructor for the class is known to give grades like that. I think they are trying to use the tactic of scaring students to study harder to get a good grade on the final. It definitely worked on me. A 60 / 100 is much better than my previous grade. Plus, I got flawless scores on my homework, papers, and projects, so I'm hoping for a miracle A -- even with a low score on the midterm and final. :)

 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Yeah... Sophomore Chemical Enginnering Weedout class: I got a 9/100 on my first exam. Class average was 12/100. One person got a 100. Second exam I got a 32/100 with class avg of 22/100. Final exam, I didnt answer 1 of the 3 questions (the 50 point question). Somehow I ended with a B.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
0
71
i had a biology professor that used to pride himself on his student test score averages of 18%. and his exams were all multiple choice. i stopped studying as soon as he said that.

i just guessed, closed my eyes and picked randomly and got a passing grade.

what exactly is the point of something like that?
 

sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
7,949
0
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i had *one* class in EE which blew everyone's socks off. we all needed C or better to graduate since it was a required course.

the semester i took it, over 55% of the class got a D or lower (including me).

The average on the 3 mid-terms never got above 40-50 / 100

This was a semester in which the Professor decided ALL TA's could teach it (3 sections). Therefore, there were no actual professors teaching it.

I had never gotten a D in my lifetime, so i wrote a scathing letter to the dean of engineering and met with him in person and was able to get him to withdraw the grade from my transcript (and i had to take the course over again)

anyway, i had friends who took the class between 4-6 times (dropping it by the final) before they passed.

not sure what we are supposed to learn when they fail everyone.

I guess the weirdest thing to get used to in college is failing every test yet still getting a B in a course. that's still a concept that's hard for me to grasp
 

radioouman

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2002
8,632
0
0
I'm hoping for a 3.0 this semester.
I have over 50% of my final grade in assignments due over the next week.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
Yup, Molecular Cell Biology. That was a weed out class. Probably 1/2 to 2/3 of the kids would drop biology as a major during/after that one. Halfway through I decided I was going to have to take it again. After reading into how it works with re-taking classes...had I gotten over a D+ the new grade would have been averaged with the old grade. By getting a D+ or lower, the new grade replaces the old grade. Figure that one out. I think the rules have changed since my catalog year.

...so I simply attended classes and turned in the bare minimum to get a 'D' and got it replaced with an 'A' the second time around....not having a g/f the second time around helped quite a bit.
 

FFactory0x

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
6,991
0
0
Originally posted by: Silex
Was wondeirng how come you were happy you got a D on an exam haha. Most of my current classes are slightly brutal in that I don't want to put any work into it. Unfortuantely, I can't blame the professor or the class for that, hah.

I was always happy to get a D 60% or better in Statistics and math. I do well in every other class and getting a D in Stat meant i never had totake it again. SCREW STAT
 

ArmchairAthlete

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2002
3,763
0
0
Crazy how stuff gets curved from such low % scores in college!

I think I did good, I'll find out next week.