Half way through the course, I failed my intro to Java course’s first exam where we wrote programs on papers and answered some multiple questions. I got a 19/100, and because the exam is 20% of the grade, my grade plunges from 93 to 62 %, which is a D-. The bar to pass the course is a C-.
As a Junior in my second semester, graduating in one year, I have underestimated the course, being confident that I got an A- in Python the previous semester. I spend time applying for opportunities and concentrating on my thesis in the humanities. I ended up study not studying well for this exam, only looking at the notes.
This first exam of the three is the easiest one, and even if I try my best with the assignment (25%), exam 2 (20%) and exam 3 (30%) . The highest grade I estimate is a 75 %.
I do relatively well on the assignments with the helps of the tutors, but now I feel discouraged if I can make it with the next class exams. Failing class is not an option since my family is not well financially and I am graduating soon with the hope of earning a CS minor (this class is a must).
The professor agreed to meet me in his office next week to discuss strategy. He told me to cheer up.
The last day to drop from a full term 16 week course is March 21st so I still have time. I know a guy who barely passed with a C even though he has 70% on his first exam, 36 next, and 64 % last. But somehow deep down, I still hope I can pull a miracle and pass this course if I study really fucckin hard.
When I took data structures, I think anyone who got more than 40% at the end of the class got an A. I thought for sure I was going to fail, and I got a B for the class. You might want to find out whether this is one of those classes where everyone does badly, which means the professor will likely have to grade on an extreme curve.
Total = 100 %
First and second Exam: Each 20 %
Assignment: 25 %
Final: 35%
The professor raised my score to 25/100 because of false grading. Still bad.
The odds is low for me to get such high grade of 85 % for each, yes, as I already struggle and completely new with Java. I should focus on improving my Python since I took it last semester as my introduction to Computer Science and love it.
Also, I have to study R from the beginning right now for my research thesis since my faculty mentor wants to teach me R to help with this research. Learning 3 languages at the same time is a Jack of all trades and too much for a newbie.
So far, I still keep my Math Concepts in Computing (one of the class for the CS minor) since I am doing well with this class. But Java with a D-? I should take a leap, drop it, and possibly retake it.
The average for the first exam is 61 %. That’s D-. I know personally one person who fails this course and end up with a B the next semester after retaking it. As for if everyone is doing badly, from what I can see, the gap of skill is wide in this course (125 students). Some kids are doing fine, while others are struggling and complaining ( I talked to three of them). It is a big lecture after all in a very diverse university. So a gap of skill is expected.
The professor graded on a curve, which is pretty common in college. If he hadn’t, almost everyone would have failed the class, and the professor would have looked like he didn’t know how to teach.
There’s no definitive standard about how grades are given out in US universities. A lot of my classes were graded on a curve, where maybe the top 15% in the class got an A, the next 20% got a B, the next 30% got a C, the next 20% got a D, and the bottom 15% got an F. Other classes had strict ranges, for example, 90%-100% was an A, 80%-89% was a B, and so on.
If the average for the first exam was 61%, then realistically that’s probably going to be a C rather than a D-.