I have to celebrate just a little bit! Got my first Biology exam grade back!

[Lyric]

My class is a class of 244 students. I tied with one other student for the highest exam grade in the class--102!

:woohoo: :bounce: :party:

I am a very happy camper. Also, congrats to ThinkBlue1966, who got a 96 on the same exam! :hug: :loveya:

Edit: Just for perspective, the average of the entire class was 69.5. Ouch. Really, it wasn't THAT hard. I can't imagine why the average was that low.

[lost-in-nj]

1. YEAH!!!!

I hope it sets the tone for the whole semester!!!!!

CONGRATS YOU TWO!!

:hi: :hug:


lost

[Lyric]

2. Thank you!!!

I really hope so too. I love Biology, so I'm really excited and pleased with this. :hug:

[TZ]

3. That strikes me as a pretty average average

Based on a normal 100 pt exam (although it sounds like there was extra credit) normally the average is between 70-75.
Just to let you know, I had some Physics exams where the averages were in the FORTIES....
But congratulations on the good score.

[Lyric]

5. I actually missed one question on the exam

which is odd, because I don't remember being confused about anything, so I'm wondering whether or not I just bubbled in the wrong bubble or something.

Anyway, my original score was 98 out of 100 (50 questions, worth 2 pts each) but the professor went back over the exam and decided that two of the questions were very badly-worded and potentially confusing, so she curved the exam by 4 points for everyone to make up for it. That gave me my 102 score. :hi:

Is that class average really "normal?" Wow. I guess I had just always thought that most people would fall into the B-C range, rather than a high D, ya know? It's pretty surprising to me.

[bigwillq]

4. YAY!

Congrats! :toast:

[Lyric]

6. Thank you!

:hug:

[Nikia]

7. A few of my classes had averages that low or lower

In those subjects though the profs curved it so that the average grade was B- or C+. Botany and Organic chemistry were two of the subjects that I am thinking of where the averages were low but the grade was curved.

[Lyric]

9. We had a slight curve for this one

because two of the questions were later deemed to be "confusing" and "badly worded." The Prof doesn't usually curve, but she curved 4 points to make up for those two questions.

Until this class, I hadn't had a "curved" grade before. To be honest, I'm not even entirely sure what it means to curve. It has to be more than just adding points. Is there a formula to it?

[Nikia]

11. It depended

Sometimes the professor added points but most often he or she just made the grade ranges lower in general such as 85 and higher A, 75-85 B, and so forth. Sometimes this varied with test though so your grades ended up averaged like ones GPA, although weighted to how much the test or assignement was worth. The professors that curved usually tried to aim for a certain average grade like a B- or C+ depending upon the class and adjusted accordingly.

[Swede]

8. Nice job,oktoberain.

:toast:

[Lyric]

10. Thank you!

I am extremely happy about it. :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. My dear oktoberain!

Well, we always knew you were smart!

That's very impressive!

And congrats to ThinkBlue as well!

You both rock!

:yourock:

[DeepBlueC]

13. a good beginning is good 'til the end

Congrats to you, teacher's pets (I hope):toast:

It was always my strategy to try to ace the first, or better the first few, tests or essays. Generally the prof will think from then on that you are among the smartest in the class. It will be harder for someone who started with Cs and Ds to bring up their average with As than it will be for you to slip your grades down. It's all about expectations. I think it was particularly effective for me because my classes were graded on essays and tests tended to be essay questions. But there have been times when I screwed up on multiple choice questions and the professor admitted to second thoughts about the test rather than doubts about me.