Curved Grading Explanation?

Hey everyone, I've heard the term 'curved grading' used a lot lately, and I'm not quite sure what it means. Can someone explain curved grading and how it's different from regular grading?

Curved grading, also known as grading on a curve, is a method of scoring where the distribution of grades is adjusted to follow a predetermined pattern, such as a normal distribution (bell curve). This method of grading is often applied to mitigate disparities in grades due to the varying difficulty of exams or assignments across different sections, professors, or even across years. It's considered to ensure fairness and consistency for all students.

In a curved grading system, the final grades are determined by comparing students' relative performance to each other, rather than against a set standard as in regular grading. Let's use an example to illustrate the difference between curved grading and regular grading:

Suppose a class of 30 students takes an exam with a maximum possible score of 100. With regular (absolute) grading, the instructor might apply predetermined ranges to assign letter grades (e.g., 90-100 for an A, 80-89 for a B, 70-79 for a C, etc.). This grading method doesn't take into account the overall performance of the class or the difficulty of the exam. If the exam turns out to be too difficult, resulting in a majority of students getting low scores, then following a strict regular grading system might lead to many students receiving poor grades.

On the other hand, with curved grading, the instructor adjusts the scores based on the overall class performance. They can decide that a certain percentile of top-performing students will receive an A, another percentile will get a B, and so on. In this case, even if the exam was difficult and the average score is low, the students who performed relatively better would still receive higher grades, ensuring that their effort is recognized.

It's essential to understand that curved grading isn't applied universally, and different instructors or institutions may employ different grading methods. You should familiarize yourself with the specific grading policies of your school or class to understand how grades will be calculated for your coursework.