You know a class is hard when average on test is 35/127

[MetalMat]

I am just remembering an electromagnetics test I had. The teacher is very hard, and luckily curves. The class average on the 3rd test was a 35/127 ! I made a 40 on it though, so I was happy :beer:

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

If he didn't curve when the average is like that... wouldn't about everybody fail?

He'd get in trouble.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete
If he didn't curve when the average is like that... wouldn't about everybody fail?

He'd get in trouble.

Not in the science classes I took in University. I've seen failing averages more times than I would like to count. I've seen professors tell us the average was too hign on the first midterm so he was going to take it down. Second midterms average was 35%.

 

[tami]

they really should curve for such exams. that would not look good, even if the prof can get away with it.

 

[kranky]

A friend who took a Calculus class last year got screwed because, although the prof graded on a curve, there was one supergenius in the class. Supergenius would get around 80-90 on the tests, and the next closest grade was in the 50's. Ended up that (not counting Supergenius) there was two Cs, four D's, and the rest failed. People with C's had the same number of overall points that the people with A's got the previous semester!

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: tami
they really should curve for such exams. that would not look good, even if the prof can get away with it.

In 4.5 years of University I only saw one exam belled and even after that it was still a failing average. Probably half a dozen times I have seen people leave exams in tears. Hows that for hard classes?

 

[Hankerton]

I hated exams like that while I was in college. What good does it do for the student to feel completely retarded after it's over and end up with a failing grade even after studying hard. There's nothing learned there.

Also doesn't motivate students to want to do better because the prof. most of the time does it on purpose.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Hankerton
I hated exams like that while I was in college. What good does it do for the student to feel completely retarded after it's over and end up with a failing grade even after studying hard. There's nothing learned there.

Also doesn't motivate students to want to do better because the prof. most of the time does it on purpose.

True, but not only that... the fact remains the student really didn't know all that much. Aren't they supposed to be tested on material they should know ?

<-- ex mech.engineer major (half of us dropped out after the 1st semester)

 

[eakers]

i had one class where on the midterm half the class got 30% and below and the other half got 90% and above. its impossible to bell curve grades like that.

the prof just made everyone who got the 30% and below take 100% final instead.

 

[purepolly]

So what is it with E&amp;M profs anyway? When I took the course a 7/50 avg was a C, and a 19/50 was an A. At least half the class would fail every semester, and only one prof taught the course.

The funny part was even though this class was a prereq for EE, it got so bad that the univ would overlook the requirement - and people were acing EE, yet still couldn't pass E&amp;M.

 

[trilks]

Is it just a hard test, or a bad professor who doesn't teach you what will be on the test?

In any case, what is the point of making a test so hard that most people would fail without a curve?

 

[SaturnX]

Originally posted by: trilks
Is it just a hard test, or a bad professor who doesn't teach you what will be on the test?

In any case, what is the point of making a test so hard that most people would fail without a curve?

To knock arrogant students from their soapbox.

--Mark

 

[agnitrate]

When did this happen, like twelve years ago?

Nobody cares about how hard your classes are.

-silver

 

[Glitchny]

Originally posted by: SaturnX

Originally posted by: trilks
Is it just a hard test, or a bad professor who doesn't teach you what will be on the test?

In any case, what is the point of making a test so hard that most people would fail without a curve?

To knock arrogant students from their soapbox.

--Mark

and hurt all the other students in the class.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: eakers
i had one class where on the midterm half the class got 30% and below and the other half got 90% and above. its impossible to bell curve grades like that.

I'd say patterns like that are much, much more common than bell curve grades. Maybe not that extreme, but the two hump camel is the typical test score distribution. There are those who try and those who don't (with a slight bell curve around each camel hump).

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete
If he didn't curve when the average is like that... wouldn't about everybody fail?

You don't have to curve to get some people with good grades, you can scale as well. Curve means that you predetermine that ~15% will get an A, ~20% will get a B, ~30% will get a C, ~20% will get a D, and ~15% will get an F. That can be very unfair if a class has a lot of top students (forcing them to get a low grade since you predetermined only a few will get an A) or a lot of bad students (forcing some to get an A even though they can't do the material).

Scaling is much better. You say anyone who got above a certain level, (say 40% on the test) gets an A. That way there is no quota on the number of good grades and bad grades. Everyone has a chance to succeed.

 

[h8red]

Organic chemistry midterms for me usually had an average of ~20%. I usually had scores in the upper teens but then again there were some (2-3) scores that were in the 90s. I personally don't see a reason for that. I mean, if the average for the class is understanding 1 out of 5 questions, I think the professor is asking the wrong questions or teaching the wrong material

 

[ed21x]

it's classes like these where slacking really pays off, because whether you studied or not, everyone gets screwed, and the final curve shoves everyone into the mean, anyways =) at least thats how i'm surving most of my tech classes...

 

[BRObedoza]

i got my midterm back in advanced calc and scored 72 and i was like "ahhh f*ck i got a 72" and then he announced the average score was a 60 and i was like "aww yeah i got a 72!"

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

I don't know if it's just my school that's different, but the general consensus around EE at my school is that assraping students on midterms is to be expected... in every class. There's a departmental rule that says finals must be worth a minimum of 50% of your grade so they usually (but not always) make those fair. The end result is that class averages usually end up in the B- to C+ range and only the people who do poorly on the final fail.

 

[ucdnam]

Don't you think that college classes need curves in order to weed out those who think they're smart, but aren't? Those who take these high level bio/chem courses will be your doctors, medical researchers, etc. You wan't them to know they're stuff. These courses seperate those who try and don't try, but also seperate those who try hard, but don't know what they've gotten themselves into.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: ucdnam
Don't you think that college classes need curves in order to weed out those who think they're smart, but aren't? Those who take these high level bio/chem courses will be your doctors, medical researchers, etc. You wan't them to know they're stuff. These courses seperate those who try and don't try, but also seperate those who try hard, but don't know what they've gotten themselves into.

Acutally I think just the opposite. A curve means that ~85% will pass even if they are complete morons. Also ~15% get an A even if they can't answer one question right. Do you want your doctor getting an A in human anatomy without being able to answer the questions? A curve forces that to happen. While if you didn't curve, those who aren't qualified would get a bad grade or fail.