How Much?

Grades can be overwhelming, stressful, and often incredibly draining. It just goes to show how vital grades can be and the extent that it affects a student's life. Yet, grades definitely don't always represent the person's mastery or intelligence on a certain subject. Grades are comprised of many different assignments, tests, projects, and quizzes and how much they are worth depends on the class. Every class is different and how much each category is worth totally depends on the teacher. With that in mind, what is the ideal ratio or weight of the categories that comprise students' grades?

Always looming over students are tests. In most classes, tests make up a gigantic chunk of our grades and is where much of our stress originates from. Tests and assessments rightfully are worth much more of a grade. However, they should not in any way be worth so much that one's grade reflects on tests alone. 

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In some classes, tests are worth 50% of a grade. This can be both positive and negative for a student. Learning wise, it requires the student to understand the material of the test much more. Some students that slack off on class work but actually comprehend the lessons can benefit from the test saving their grade. The problem with this though, is that it does not advocate great work ethic and may make some students lazy. This greatly contrasts to what they would be facing in the workplace and future. 

Such a high portion of one's grade consisting of a test score can be hazardous to student as well. Often, missing a single question on the test could translate to an entire percentage lost on one's entire grade. Tests don't always represent a student's skill set and can fluctuate by a number of different factors. Even if students prep for tests, sometimes mental errors can lead to costly mistakes that are difficult to make up later on. Perhaps the student studied so much the night before that they are completely drained the morning of the assessment. This spells doom for the student. 

Tests must also not weigh too little, otherwise students would not study. All things considered, what is most essential is a balance to be present in student grades. Test are vital but they shouldn't constitute the entirety of a grade. Some classes run the danger of falling into this and can be dangerous for students many ways.