8.01 Final Course Average Results, Fall 1997

The final course average for each student was found by computing a weighted average according to the following percentages:

Test	Contribution
Weekly Quizzes	30
Review Quizzes	30
Final Exam	40

The average of the final course average grades for all 8.01 students was 67.8%, which I thought was quite good. The class made me happy by doing better than I expected on the final exam.

The passing grade for the final course average has been set at 57.0, and other numerical grades can be translated into letter grades according to the following chart:

NUMERICAL GRADE	LETTER GRADE
80.0 - 100	A
68.0 - 79.9	B
57.0 - 67.9	C
41.0 - 56.9	D
0.0 - 40.9	F

A histogram of the grades is shown below:

If you wish to review the results of the various components to the final grades, you can follow these links:

After the grades were computed numerically, those students who were just a little below the borderlines were discussed at a meeting of all the 8.01 staff. On the basis of this discussion, a small number of students were pushed above the borderline and given a grade higher than their numerical average would indicate. The most common reason for such a grade increase was the case of a student who had shown very significant improvement during the term.

Your class instructor should be able to tell you both your final exam grade, and your final course average, if you ask. If that does not work, feel free to send email to me at guth@ctp.mit.edu.

--- Alan Guth, 8.01 Course Examiner

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Last modified: Wednesday, January 7, 1998 7:09 am