Grade curving is a process in which a teacher or professor adjusts the grades of students in a class to better reflect the overall performance of the class. It usually involves shifting the distribution of grades to account for any discrepancies or variations in the difficulty of the assignment or exam.
The effect of grade curving on individual grades varies depending on the specific curve being applied. In some cases, it may result in a higher or lower grade than your original score, while in others it may have no impact on your grade at all. It ultimately depends on how the curve is calculated and applied.
The fairness of grade curving is a topic of debate among educators. Some argue that it is necessary to account for variations in difficulty and ensure a level playing field for all students. Others argue that it can unfairly penalize students who performed well on the original assignment or exam.
The specific method for determining a grade curve can vary, but it typically involves analyzing the distribution of grades in the class and deciding on a curve that best reflects the performance of the students. This may involve setting a certain percentage of students to receive each grade (such as a certain number of A's, B's, etc.), or using a statistical formula to adjust the grades.
Grade curving is most commonly used in courses with large class sizes or in courses where there is a wide variation in the difficulty of assignments or exams. However, it is ultimately up to the discretion of the teacher or professor whether or not to implement a grade curve in their class.