ASSESSMENT POLICY FOR “FIRST-YEAR” CHEMISTRY – Dr. DeBona
Every individual assessment (i.e. test, quiz, homework, lab report) is based on a scale of 0 to 100%.
Grade reports (mid-marking period and full marking period) are calculated using a weighted average, as
follows:
Tests 40%,
Quizzes 25%
Lab Reports 25%
Homework 10%
Assessment Category
Weighting Factor
Tests
0.40
Quizzes
0.25
Lab Reports
0.25
Homework
0.10
If a special project is assigned, it counts as a test.
To compute a course grade one averages all the assessments for each category. These averages are
then multiplied by the weighting factor. The final grade is the sum of the values for each category.
EXAMPLE:
Say you had 3 assessments each category in a marking period.
Tests: 91, 85, 88
Quizzes: 100, 95, 90
Lab Reports: 95, 92, 97
Homework: 100, 100, 100
Your Test average is (91 + 85 + 88) divided by 3 =
Your Quiz average is (100 + 95 + 90) divided by 3 =
Your Lab Average is (95 + 92 + 97) divided by 3 =
And your Homework average is =
88
95
94.7
100
Now multiply each average above by its weighting factor:
Tests: 88(.40) =
Quizzes : 95(.25) =
Lab Reports: 94.7(.25) =
Homework: 100(.10) = 10.0
35.2
23.75
23.68
10
Sum the above weighted numbers =
92.63
The corresponding letter grade is an “A-”
The Power School grade book will automatically handle computation of your grade by this
method. Remember that it is your responsibility to track your performance by checking the
online grade book frequently.
A Few Words about Assessments:
Tests:
 Test dates will be shown on your weekly syllabus at least one rotation cycle in advance –
so generally a week or more before the test. There will never be unannounced tests.
 Tests typically cover a textbook chapter or “unit”. Frequency of tests varies depending
on the length and difficulty of the topic. Expect about 3 per marking period.
 Typically a review session will be held on the last class day before the test. Reviews
consist of a run-down of key concepts, practice problems, test format and an
opportunity to ask questions and receive answers.
 If you are absent on the day of the test, you must be prepared to take the make-up test
the day that you return to class. Special accommodations will be made for students
who experience a prolonged class absence.
Quizzes:
 Quizzes may be unannounced, so you should be prepared for a quiz on any material
that has been covered up to the day of the quiz. Announced quizzes are much more
common and will be shown on the weekly syllabus.
 Quizzes typically cover a limited amount of material within a chapter. Expect several
per marking period.
 Make-up policy is the same as for tests.
Lab Reports:
 Written lab reports will be required for most lab experiments. For most you will be
given a printed lab experiment sheet(s) explaining the purpose of the experiment, a list
of materials, safety considerations, a stepwise procedure and a place to record
observations. These labs also have questions to be answered and/or problems to be
solved based on your results. Occasionally, you will be required to prepare a more
detailed report. For these you will be given specific instructions on how to prepare the
report.
 Lab reports are usually due on the next regular lab day. In any case, due dates will be
posted on the weekly syllabus. Late reports will lose 10 points for each day beyond
the due date (school absence excepted).

Lab experiments are conducted in teams of 2 or more students. Each member of the
team writes his/her own report. Only the data and some observations should be
common within the team. Team members are encouraged to discuss observations,
results, conclusions, and computations – just be sure to prepare your report in your own
words. Exact duplicates will be treated as copies of one original report, so the team will
divide one grade evenly among its members (obviously, you don’t want to do this).
Homework:
 Homework assignments and due dates will be posted on the weekly syllabus. They must
be submitted or shown when called for during class. Other than for absence from class,
late assignments will not be accepted.
 All homework assessments are “effort” based. That is, you do not have to get correct
responses to questions. You just need to show evidence that you have made a
reasonable attempt to solve the problem or answer a question. If you attempt all
questions assigned, you earn “100” for the assignment.
 You are allowed 2 missed assignments per marking period – no explanation is necessary
on your part. You are strongly urged to save these for “crunch time”, when you are
overwhelmed with other work. A third missed assignment will be entered as a “0” in
the grade book.
 Expect about 10 homework grades per marking period.
Lab Sessions:

For periods 1 and 4 class is extended to 11:00. For periods 6 and 8 class begins at 11:15.
This schedule holds even if there is no laboratory work planned for that day. (Lab
sessions are not held when we have delayed openings or half-days).