School Curve

[LostMyMonkeys]

This is the recommended grade distribution for my school. What exactly does it mean in regards to the curve? Is it a C curve? A high curve? Low curve? Good, bad or indifferent?

Numbers are NOT my strong suit, therefore a reason I went to law school.

Thanks in advance

The recommended grade distribution for first-year courses is:
A, A- 15%
B+, B, B- 25%
C+, C, C- 45%
D+, D, F 15%

The recommended grade distribution for second and third year courses is:
A, A- 15%
B+, B 25%
B-, C+, C 45%
C-, D+, D, F 15%

[LostMyMonkeys]

And here is this, if it matters..

Letter Grade Point Value Letter Grade Point
A - 4.0              C- - 1.67
A- - 3.67            D+ - 1.33
B+ - 3.33            D - 1.0
B - 3.0              F - 0.0
B- - 2.67            P - Pass
C+ - 2.33            W - Withdrawal
C - 2.0              W/F - 0.0

[norm012001]

I would consider that to be a tough curve because 60% of the class will be below a B-.  My school supposedly curves to a B/B+, so a C is a pretty low grade (this is what I understand anyway, I don't have grades yet).

In the end, it only matter psychologically though since class rank is the holy grail.

[Texas]

Fairly tough...but at our school only 10% get the A...also a C+ median...so our curve may not be harder per se, but it is harder to get a high GPA with fewer A's to go around...

BTW what is the proper way to write "A's" - an apostrophe seems incorrect, but if you just write "As" you're equally wrong...any ideas...

[Mimimimi]

Fairly tough...but at our school only 10% get the A...also a C+ median...so our curve may not be harder per se, but it is harder to get a high GPA with fewer A's to go around...

BTW what is the proper way to write "A's" - an apostrophe seems incorrect, but if you just write "As" you're equally wrong...any ideas...

'A's?  As would not be incorrect (like 1980s).  The problem is it looks like the word "as". 

[DutchessA]

How 'bout A(s)

[tacojohn]

That's a fairly tough curve.  The problem with curves like that, and why I don't think schools should use them, is even with a very tight distribution, 15% of people are still doing awful.  The 3.0 or 2.7 curve prevents this because there's only so many A's that could boost the curve, while on your curve, a B really drags it up, and has to be matched with an F.  The only reason for a curve like that is to get a high attrition rate.

[modena99]

I would consider that to be a tough curve because 60% of the class will be below a B-.  My school supposedly curves to a B/B+, so a C is a pretty low grade (this is what I understand anyway, I don't have grades yet).

In the end, it only matter psychologically though since class rank is the holy grail.

Class rank is going to be skewed because many at the bottom of the class with get dismissed and others will just quit. Those students will no longer be included in ranking. I think the schools should include them in the ranking to prevent wild changes in ranking.