Grading scales and number of questions on your exams

FDW630 · Nov 11, 2012

50 questions on unit tests, 10 on quizzes and 100 on finals. 90 and up is an A, 85-89 is a B, 80-84 is a C and anything less than that is failing. We have to have a test average of 80 or they wont even add in our quiz/project scores...they fail us.

Sadala, ADN, RN · Nov 11, 2012

It's never the same #, usually 50 - 70 q's though. There is NO curve. Can't remember if the minimum is 75 or 76 average in the class tests/assignments/quizzes/finals in order to pass. I think it's > 76. Each class is different in terms of the % the final is worth, the % assignments are worth, etc. I think clinicals and lab for fundamentals are only an extremely small part of the overall fund. grade, but if you fail the lab or clinicals in that course then you fail the entire class.

We do get a bonus question or two sometimes. Also, if the instructors think that a particular question/answer was incorrect, they go back and give everyone credit after the test. Not a frequent occurrence, but does happen every now and again.

Even though we have a minimum number for achieving a C, B's still start at 80 and A's at 90 (at least, I think so... lol)

psu_213, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2012

50 questions. 93-100=A, 86-92-B, 80-85-C, Less than an 80 is failing.

These were the ranges (or something similar to this) for grades for the entire college, not just the nursing program (although only nursing had a

To the OP, what do you hope to do with this information? Do you honestly plan to go to the dean with information and say that your nursing program is unfair, too tough, etc. and that they should do something about it? I just don't think this is a productive use of your time, especially if this program is as tough as you make it out to be.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Nov 12, 2012

Our scale is something along the lines of:

95&up A

93-94 A-

91-92 B+

87-90 B

85-86 B-

83-84 C+

78-82 C

Minimum overall grade to pass any class is a 78.0% -- a 77.9999% doesn't cut it.

Number of questions per exam varies on the exam and the class/instructor. Typical is 50-80 for a regular exam, 80-125 for a comprehensive final exam.

There is no "curve" although if a certain percentage of students fail a particular question, it "might" be thrown out (if the instructor's in a good mood... and that "certain percentage" varies by instructor as well).

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2012

This is a program wide issue. I am in my last semester and we have 8+ people failing (8/27). These are people that I have become very close to and spent much of time with over these last few years. I am concerning myself with this. I am simply doing a little research before I talk to the dean. There is no reason that we should have made it this far just to fail out our last semester because the faculty changed the number of questions on our exams. I am advocating for my classmate and myself, something we are taught to do for our patients but rarely do for ourselves.

Alas, some students are unable to make the final leap from first and second semester to fourth, or to graduation. There is no guarantee that just because you made it this far you're good enough to graduate. Seen it time and time again. Many of those who can't make that leap to higher-level critical thinking (and do not understand why their faculty are so "mean") will do very well as caring, loving, passionate nurses. It's just that their licenses will read "LPN." Fact of life.

PinkCupcake · Nov 12, 2012

I just took a test today and it was worth 31 points (kinda random if you ask me) any grade less than an 80% is failing.

emlam · Nov 13, 2012

I'm in the ADN program. We need an 85% to stay in the program! Probably started off with 70 some students and by 3rd semester we were down to 40 students. We are still losing students this semester. Like GrnTea said, focus on the learning material! Teachers are willing to help students pass, but only if the student is willing to put in the time and effort.

Also, there are about 50-65 questions per exam. Depending on the Instructor, they sometimes curve the exam score based on a 50% or 75% rule (if so many students got a question wrong, it was removed)

A (96-100)

A- (93-95)

B+ (90-92)

B (87-89)

B- (85-86)

C+ (83-84)

C (80-82)

C- (77-79)

D+ (75-76)

D (72-74)

D- (70-71)

F (0 -69)

Good Luck with your learning adventure!!!

Still Standing · Nov 13, 2012

There's not a minimum or max amount of questions that they give us it just depends on the instructors, and we won't know till we receive the test. We've hade anywhere from 20- 150 question unit exams. I wasn't aware that schools were setting a limit on the exams. We have to have a 75 minimum average at the end of the semester to pass they do round averages but only at the end, and we have to make an 80 minimum on the comprehensive dosage calculations exam; and pass clinicals, labs, medication administration and head to toe check off in order to pass the class. They also look at how many absences and tardies you have.

emlam · Nov 13, 2012

I've actually learned that my school started counting the absences and tardies because Financial Aid will not pay for students missing class, since the contract is for students to attend class and Fafsa will offer aid.

Stephalump · Nov 13, 2012

I know, right! If 90 was an A, I would have been a straight A student. It sucked explaining that I got a B with a 93% (which happened in two freakin classes). For graduate school, it's makes me mad knowing that my GPA is lower than other people who got lower test percentages.

That would be frustrating! I hate when schools have weird grading scales - they clearly aren't considering those who have to take their transcripts elsewhere. What would work better is using a +/- system. It would differentiate GPAs differently but when a grad program evaluates your transcripts they just convert your grades back to normal A's and B's.