rounding up grades

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Specializes in school nursing; pediatrics.

Just curious - does your school round up when calculating your grade for the block?

Just finished Block 3 (got an "A" and also got an "A" for Block 2. Just missed an "A" by 0.6 in Block 1). One of my close school mates, who also works very hard, just missed her "A" by 0.4! I felt so bad for her since I know how it feels to come so close after working so hard. This would have been her first "A." Normally, she gets high "B's."

I just don't understand why nursing schools don't round up. Also, why do nursing schools use an elevated grading scale? Nursing school is hard enough!!

Finally, does your school take into account your care plans or clinical performance when considering your final grade? Our school just gives either a pass or a fail for clinical and then our grade for the block is based upon test grades, skill check-offs, and written/oral assignments.

Thanks for the feedback.

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Nope no rounding. Passing is 75. If you have 74.9, that means you failed.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Rounding yes, passing is 70% :D So i didnt feel your pain

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

No rounding up in my program either. Passing is a 77% on tests and course work. That means you have to have a 77 or better average on tests first. If your test average is about 77%, your course work is factored in and it can help/hurt your grade. If your test average is below a 77%, you fail automatically and course work is not considered. Too bad about missing the A, but imagine getting a test average of 76.5% and 100% in course work, but still failing the class!

Clinicals are pass/fail, but some clinicals have graded work (papers, care plans, etc) that are factored into the course grade.

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Finally, does your school take into account your care plans or clinical performance when considering your final grade? Our school just gives either a pass or a fail for clinical and then our grade for the block is based upon test grades, skill check-offs, and written/oral assignments.

Thanks for the feedback.

Care plans or other written assignments are not taken into consideration for grades. Care Plans only matter for clinicals. Clinicals are pass/fail. Our final grades are based on our written exams. A small portion for first year is from skills checkoffs. 97% from exams & 3% from skills checkoffs.

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Specializes in Private Practice- wellness center.

No rounding here either. You either get 77.0% or higher or you fail the class. My clinicals are counted as a grade though...WOOHOO!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Some instructors I've had in College over the years will not round up. A few will. Those that will, may do so if you're within 1% of the next higher grade and if your class participation warrants it. I don't think I've ever had an Instructor/Professor that's rounded up more than that.

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The percentage you need to pass the NCLEX is 75%, or so I've always been told. That's why the scale is elevated, and that's why they don't round. The NCLEX doesn't round up. We needed a 75% on tests and then other grades were factored in... If you didn't get the 75% test average, you failed.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

No rounding, and lowest passing grade was 78 in my school.

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wow, everyone here are in harsh programs. Our teachers always round up. Last semester, I could tell that a lot of people were

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We have to have a 77% to pass, if you get a 76.5 it is rounded up to a 77%.

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It's not just nursing programs with elevated grading.

My kid got her AA in accounting at a community college, classes had to be passed with a 74% or better, now that she moved on to a 4 year school she has to have a 76% or better for the class to count.

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