PHY2054 Fall 2011 August 15, 2011
University of Florida Page 1 of 2 Department of Physics
PHY2054 Overall Course Grade
Your overall course score (in %) is evaluated from the following three terms:
Overall Course Score = Exams + Quiz + Homework + ‘Free’ Extra
Credit
Exams: Your overall exam score is given by
Exams =[(Ex1 + Ex2)/40] * 40% + (Final/20)*25%
Exams .
Ex1 and Ex2 are your exam scores. The exams will be 20 problems each with one point
per problem. Final is the cumulative final exam which is also 20 problems and is weighted
at 25% with respect to the other two exams, giving a total possible exam score of 65 points. The
exams are weighted to count for 65% of your overall course score.
Quiz: Your overall quiz score is given by
the sum of all ten of your quiz scores, divided by 0.9*50, then multiplied by 20%:
overall quiz score = [(Sum of all ten quiz scores)/(0.9*50)]*20%
Quiz Score Explanation.
Your quiz scores are summed over all
10 quizzes and divided by the total number of quiz points possible, 10 × 5 = 50 , minus
10% (forgiveness for illness, missed classes, etc…):
0.9 × 50 = 45
and then weighted to count 20% of your overall course score. You cannot get more than
20% for this portion so if the 10% forgiveness results in you getting more than 20%, you
will only get the full 20%.
Homework: Your overall homework score is given by
the sum of all 11 of your homework scores divided by 0.9*the total possible homework points then
multiplied by 15%:
Homework score =[ (Sum of your homework scores)/(0.9 * total possible homework points)]*15%
Homework Score Explanation
Your homework scores are summed over all 11
assignments of the semester and divided by the total number of assigned homework
problems, where each homework problem is worth 1 point, minus 10% (forgiveness for network
problems, etc. …).
The homework portion is weighted to count for 15% of your overall course score. You
cannot get more than 15% for this portion so if the 10% forgiveness results in you
getting more than 15%, you will only get the full 15%.
Extra Credit: Up until two weeks before each exam (but not later) you may hand in to your
recitation TA one proposed test problem, with a correct and clear solution. If your problem and
solution are correct, you will receive one point of extra credit, for a possible total extra credit points
of 3 points (1 point for each of the two tests and 1 point for the final.) If your problem is chosen a
test, you will a.) receive another 0.5 point each if your problem is chosen for one of the first two
exams and 1.0 point if your problem is chosen for the final plus b.) you will hopefully recognize your
problem and do well on it. Thus, someone could conceivably receive 5 extra credit points, while
someone who submits correct (but not chosen problems) can receive up to 3 extra credit points.
Thus, the total points possible in the class are actually 105 (or 103 for most people.) These extra
credit points do NOT affect the fixed grade scale given below – extra credit points are over and
above the 65 points for the 3 tests, 20 points for the quizzes, and 15 points for the homework. They
are extra.
Grading Scale: THERE IS NO CURVE IN THIS CLASS. Curves pit students against
each other in competing for a better grade but education research has shown that learning
from peers can be an effective learning aid both for the students who get the help and for
those who give the help (the latter clarifying their thoughts in the process. If you want to learn a
subject, teaching it to someone else makes it clearer to you. Try it!) You are
encouraged to form study groups and work together to bring the entire level of our class up. Your
overall course score will be calculated to 5 significant figures and there is no rounding off.
Grade Scale (fixed)
A ≥ 85%
A- ≥ 82%
B+ ≥ 80%
B ≥ 70%
B- ≥ 67%
C+ ≥ 65%
C ≥ 60%
C- ≥ 58%
D+ ≥ 55%
D ≥ 50%
D- ≥ 45%
E < 45%
Example of How to Estimate Your Course Grade:
Suppose we have completed exams 1 and 2, with your scores being Ex1=12, Ex2= 15.
Also, suppose that to date there have been 8 quizzes and your total score is 27 out of 40 possible quiz
points and suppose we have had 72 homework problems and your total score is 54.
In this case,
(12 + 15)/40 * 40% = 27% Exams
[(27)/(0.9*40)]Quiz 

54/(0.9*72)
and
Overall Course Score = 27% + 15% + 12.5% = 54.5% out of a possible (before the final) 75%, or
54.5/75=72.7%,
which corresponds to a grade of “B” until the ‘free’ extra credit and the final are calculated at the end
of the class.