<p>Do most of the professors at Davis grade on a curve? I would hope that they don’t, obviously, because that just seems a little too cutthroat to me.</p>
<p>Yes, most grade on a rough curve. The average grade in most classes is a B/B- and this is what the teachers set the curve to. Some classes don't grade on a curve but the grades usually end up being the same as if they graded on a curve.</p>
<p>rocafella, grading on a curve at Davis is usually seen as a good thing. Usually the curve ends up HELPING. I've never been in the class where, say you got an 92, but the class all had 95's so your 92 is a C. I've never been in a class that was like that usually its like, you get a 74, but your prof. grades on a curve so your 74 ends up being a B-.</p>
<p>Most all the classes I've ever had in my 4 years at Davis have been curved.</p>
<p>I've only had one lecturer (twice unfortunately) who's curve was detremental to the class. He curved very strictly - average is a C, one standard deviation up is a B, another standard deviation up was an A. Well, the first midterm average was around a 36/40, with a standard deviation of 3. Thus a 40/40 was an B+. (this is Ellis incase you were wondering - lectures math & physics)</p>
<p>Most of the time the professors won't 'curve down'.. if the average is high then the grades are high. The curves usually help. For instance in my pchem class the average is around a 55%.. half the class would be failing if it weren't for the curve. That 55% is a C+/B-.</p>