RG-ache
RG stand for relative grading. Since the difficulty level can differ from course to course, instuctor to instructor and even semester to semester, the grades are normalized according to the performance of the entire class. The average grade of the class gets B or C grade and the standard deviation is used to decide the other grades.
While this should be what one could expect to get when one applies law of large numbers. As the sample size grows large, the student performance will confirm well to this “distribution” (I use this word is a loose sense).
However, a typical class size is less than 60 students. I have seen enough cases where students would be unfairly penalized just because their peers taking the course performed better. The converse is also true: if the students tend to be a bunch of slackers, why should they “deserve” a grade?
Influenced by my advisor, I have a policy of absolute grading. Although I include a “relative” component in grading by providing extra credit opportunities. More on that later.
On relative grading…i was just curious to know ur thots on this one
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In a class of 3 students… these are the marks in an exam… 90, 80 and 70 …and the three get A, B, C respectively… what wud u call that…relative/absolute..?? how wud u grade these 3 .. ?
And yes..there is the possibility of Grade Modifiers too….that is an A-, B+, B- , C+ etc…