GPA help

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

Ok, I don't usually post rants/raves etc., but I really need some advice. I really need to know if I'm looking at this correctly before I have an anxiety attack.

Our grading system consists of 6 tests and the final. The 6 tests are each 15% of our grade and the final is 10% of our grade. 92-100 is an A. (not sure what the rest are). All of our grades are posted on the computer, before this last test my class average (as per the computer) was a 91.2. I got a 94 on the test yesterday and my average is now a 91.5. I just cannot figure this out.

I'm a little upset that in order to get an A in the class I would need to get a 96 (if i figured it right) on the final, but I signed the syllabus and so it goes. I'll just work my butt off.

We were told in the beginning of the semester that grades will not be "rounded up". I'm fine with that. However, all our tests are 75 questions, therefore requiring fraction points in the scoring. I am not seeing these "fraction points" added anywhere in my average. In the syllabus it says "no scores will be rounded off". "OFF" being the key term. So are they able to take these fraction points away?? I feel like I earned them and they are not showing on my individual test grades (88,89,93,93,92,94).

These "fraction" points have great significance to me because they are the difference between my scholarship and not. Our nursing class is 9 credits and if I get a B, that brings my gpa from a 4.0 to a 3.25, obviously out of contention for a scholarship for 09/10 school year.

Any insight would be appreciated, this just does not seem like I'm interpreting this correctly.

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My program sounds to have the same policy as yours. There's no rounding up. I've heard of students just about to pass, only off a few tenths of a point. We were warned of this at the very beginning. As far as everything related to nursing school, to demand "fair" is only going to make you crazy! I agree, as my first "B" in nursing school will be due to a 0.4 difference. If only they rounded up!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

Thanks for your reply. I'm not so sure I'm upset that they don't round up. I was aware they didn't from the beginning. I think tis more the fact that they just ignoring those tenths of a point. Of 6 tests if they were .5 on each that is 3 points!! The syllabus says "scores won't be rounded off" so I just dont get how they can round down.

Anyway, thanks for the response, I guess I'll just try to stop driving myself crazy :)

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

You were close in your math, you need a little more than 96 for the A. Otherwise you'd be just under 92 average, and if they dropped the tenths place instead of rounding, you'd be out of luck :(

The grading scales in NS blow big time and it's screwed over a lot of people I know in the financial aid department, because their NS C grade would be worth a B in any other program, and it's killing their overall GPAs.

I would flat out ask them what they mean by not rounding "off". And good luck on the final!

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