Grading system at college?

Question

can someone explain to me how is the grade determined at a college? isnt true that for most of the classes, your grades are only based on your test grades? and is there such thing as honor courses in college? if yes, then are those courses weighted?

Answer 1

Professors, at most universities and colleges, set the terms for the courses they teach. I, for one, give very few tests. I prefer that students apply their knowledge by writing research papers and doing projects. There are no honor courses at 95% of universities. When you graduate degrees are awarded with honors, *** laude, magna *** laude, and summa *** laude. Getting the ribbon to wear at graduation makes the sacrifice worthwhile.

Answer 2

It's completely up to the professor. Some only base grades on tests, some on papers, some on homework, some on all of the above. Some colleges (like state colleges) will offer honors courses if there's a big difference in ability between the students. No, the courses won't be weighted.

Answer 3

At U.S. universities, there isn't a common method of grading across all colleges or even across all classes. Grades may be based upon exams, papers, quizzes, presentations, projects, participation, and any number of other factors (in any combination). It is true that at the larger universities, there is more focus on exams and papers, simply because there is no way to schedule hundreds of presentations, for example, for a single class, and no way for individual students to participate, but that varies.

Yes, there are honors courses in college, but those courses are not usually weighted. Obviously, it looks better on your transcript to have an A in an honors course than in the regular version of the same course, but an A for a 3-credit course is still worth 3 credits of 4.0, whether the course is an honors course or not.

Answer 4

Generally, in the sciences, your grade is largely determined by exams. This simply weeds out the pretenders from the real players. In other courses there may be more focus on papers, group work, presentations, etc . In philosophy, for example, your ability to write a well thought out paper is far more critical of anything else. In business, group work is extremely important.

You'll sometimes find an honor division at your college. However ,it's not like an honors type thing at a high school. Honors in college generally allow one to graduate "with honors" upon completion of a significant project for their undergrad degree. This is often a thesis or something equivalent.

Answer 5

Each class is a little different. Some professors only have exams, while others give homework, quizzes, and/or extra credit. It really depends on what type of classes you take. Math classes usually have a homework grade and quizzes. Some sciences also do. On the first day of class the professor is expected to explain their grading policy. There are honors classes, but at least at my school they are not weighted. They simply allow you to graduate "with honors"--your diploma will say something to that effect.

Answer 6

No, they aren't going to change those grades. What you made, is what you made. Just like if you had a 91% 'A' they aren't going to change it down from an 'A' to a 'B' (That is if you were going from the college with the 10pt grading scale to the college with the 8pt grading scale)