Grade Scales for Homework and Exams
MAS 4105, Section 6137 (14609) — Linear Algebra 1
Fall 2023

The scale for each assignment, quiz, or exam below is created after the assignment, quiz, 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 and 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 below, except for quiz totals, was computed from the scores of only those students who took that quiz. The average for total quiz points was computed just from currently-registered students, and just for the non-EC quizzes (Quizzes 1–9), but averages-in zeroes for missed non-EC quizzes. Quiz averages below (both individual and total) do not incorporate any points that were earned back later.


Quizzes

Scores (and cutoffs) for the different quizzes are simply added together at the end of the semester. Example: if there are only two quizzes, worth 25 points and 30 points respectively, and the "A" cutoffs are 22 and 26 respectively, then the "A" cutoff for the quiz/homework component of the final grade is 48 out of a possible 55. A student earning 24 points on each of the two quizzes would have the same homework grade as a student earning 18 points on the first assignment and 30 points on the second.

A B C D class average
Quiz 1 (30 points)
27
(90%)
22
(73%)
16
(53%)
9
(30%)
16.7
(56%)
Quiz 2 (24 points)
22
(92%)
20
(83%)
16
(67%)
10
(42%)
18.0
(67%)
Quiz 3 (20 points)
18
(90%)
16
(80%)
12
(60%)
6
(30%)
16.3
(82%)
Quiz 4 (30 points)
27
(90%)
21
(70%)
15
(50%)
9
(30%)
28.1
(94%)
Quiz 5 (20 points)
17
(85%)
15
(75%)
12
(60%)
9
(45%)
14.8
(74%)
Quiz 6 (20 points)
18
(90%)
15
(75%)
12
(60%)
9
(45%)
16.8
(84%)
Quiz 7 (20 points)
18
(90%)
16
(80%)
14
(70%)
10
(50%)
18.1
(90%)
Quiz 8 (20 points)
18
(90%)
15
(75%)
12
(60%)
9
(45%)
17.1
(86%)
Quiz 9 (20 points)
18
(90%)
16
(80%)
13
(65%)
10
(50%)
19.8
(99%)
Quiz 10 (20 points extra credit)
(No grade scale. As far as the raw-score
cutoffs [the same for every student] for
letter grades are concerned, this quiz
does not exist. Your points on this quiz, once it's graded,
will be added to numerator of your
quiz-percentage fraction without
changing denominator [the 204 points
from quizzes 1–9]. You should thank
Andres for convincing me to do this!)
Quiz totals (204 points)
183
(90%)
156
(76%)
123
(60%)
81
(40%)
154
(75%)


Midterm Exams

A B C D class median class average
Exam 1 (112 points)
96
(86%)
83.5
(75%)
63.5
(57%)
51
(46%)
70.5
(63%)
69.4
(62%)
list of scores
Exam 2 (115 points)
100.5
(87%)
85.5
(74%)
63.5
(55%)
46
(40%)
69.5
(60%)
69.9
(61%)
list of scores


Final Exam (259 points)

A B C D class median class average
Final Exam (259) points)
208
(80%)
171
(66%)
129
(50%)
94
(36%)
113.5
(44%)
121
(47%)
list of scores

Raw-score cutoffs for each grade

See Canvas "Assignment" and syllabus for explanation.

max possible A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D
1000 842 798 755 711 654 597 540 488 436 385


Distribution of final grades for course

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D E
Number of students receiving grade 1 1 1 1 5 1 2 1 1 0 2

The two students who received E's had not attended class (or taken quizzes) since shortly after the second midterm, and did not show up for the final exam, but were still on the grading roster. Often this happens when a petition to drop is still in process when grades are due.

If you have a question about your grade or would like to look at your graded exam, please come to my office hours after January 8 (check my home webpage after Jan. 7 for my schedule). I will not send or discuss grades by email.


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