Some Stats…
I’d like to share some startling statistics from my second Math midterm.
- In a class of 100+, number of students who passed: 3
- Class average: 13/50, or 26%
- Number of pages on exam: 14
- Format: all written
- This is: ridiculous
What would you do if you were in my situation?
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15 Responses to “Some Stats…”
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Maggy on November 13th, 2008
so that makes the failing rate >97%? Holy, in my 3 years of UBC, I’ve never had that happened. I’ve had classes with 30% for a midterm (Physics 100), classes with ridiculously high midterm average (Chem 205), and classes with a rumoured 30% failing rate (Chem 233), but I’ve never ever heard of a >97% fail rate before. This is amazing.
Me…I would have a talk with the prof, and maybe ask him if he had an alternate marking scheme (some profs have a policy where if you do considerably better on your final than your midterm, the weight of the final counts for more), and possibly have a talk with the dean or the head of the department.
This is ridiculous. University is a challenge, but not a failing haven.
Eastwood on November 13th, 2008
Funny thing… this prof isn’t the most effective “communicator”.
Also, ironically, this is suppose to be a first-year calculus course for those who haven’t taken it in high school. Seems to me that the prof’s doing exactly the opposite and making it difficult for us… keep in mind that the honours equivalent (Math 120) only had 5 questions on their exam.
Time to take matter into my own hands
— thanks for dropping by!
Maggy on November 13th, 2008
no prob! I just find the 97+% failing rate to be…for a lack of a better word, amazing.
Phoebe on November 13th, 2008
That’s insane and totally not right. Can you petition the undergrad office?
Btw, looking for a partner for cpsc assignment 3? =P
Tysune on November 13th, 2008
Wow. o.O
What math are you in?
Are they going to scale it?
Mary on November 13th, 2008
I’d say take this as an isolated incident, walk away whistling a tune, “non, je ne regrette rien” by Edith Piaf works marvellously.
Andrew Li on November 14th, 2008
that 3/100 is disgusting.
I find it funny how there’s so much discrepancy between all the math classes. My second math midterm was harder yet the average was still 78% and I highly doubt that’s just cause everyone is remarkably intelligent (although that’s still a possibility).
Bowen on November 14th, 2008
5 words for ya…take it to the Dean.
Eastwood on November 14th, 2008
Grrr…
It’s Math 184, supposedly the “easy” version of calculus
Tysune on November 14th, 2008
Ah, well that sucks.
Hopefully they’ll scale the marks.
Sonja on November 16th, 2008
Hi Eastwood,
I’m a Councillor of the Science Undergraduate Society, which aims to enhance the university experience for all Science students, as well as represent ~6000 of us to the Faculty of Science.
I also regularly read the UBC student blogs, and your post about the recent math 184 midterm you wrote causes me great concern. I’ve spoken to the Science Student Senator, Geoff Costeloe, and we may be interested in advocating on the behalf of students by raising this incident to the university administration. Before doing that, though, we need to know a few things: the professor, date of the exam, any comparison between sections (was it a common exam? what was the average for other sections?)
Have you, or anyone you know, spoken to the professor/instructor or the Head of Math about this? What was their response?
You can get back to me via e-mail or on this blog. Don’t worry about answering any of these questions in great detail (except for perhaps the last). Bullet points are fine. The sooner you get back to me, the sooner I’ll be able to talk to Geoff and formulate a plan of action by SUS regarding this issue.
Thanks,
Sonja
Science Undergraduate Society Math Club Representative
Andre Malan on November 16th, 2008
Math profs here tend to do that a lot, they will make very hard midterms and just pass off the failing grades with the phrase “it will all be scaled in the end”. However, with classes like Math 184 (which changes very rarely) profs should have enough knowledge to write a test that will obtain the average that is expected (a class like psychology 100 is very good at they, they almost never have to adjust the midterm averages).
Failing students on midterms just because you cannot be bothered to check the difficulty of a test is unacceptable as it puts unnecessary stress on the students. Eastwood you should follow up on this… with Sonja and Geoff you are in good hands.
Bowen on November 17th, 2008
Interestingly, Eastwood is in Commerce…would that affect Sonja and Geoff into dealing with this issue?
Eastwood on November 17th, 2008
Don’t forget, I’m also in science
I’m sure, however, that the course isn’t exclusively for people in commerce.