Grade Calculator With a Curve

Grade Curve Formula:

\[ \text{Curved Grade} = \text{Original Grade} + (\text{Curve Factor}) \] \[ \text{or} \] \[ \text{Curved Grade} = \text{Original Grade} \times (1 + \frac{\text{Curve Percentage}}{100}) \]

Original Grade:

Curve Type:

Curve Points:

points

Curve Percentage:

Curved Grade:

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

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1. What is Grade Curving?

Grade curving is a method of adjusting student grades to account for variations in test difficulty or overall class performance. It can be done by adding points or applying a percentage increase to all scores.

2. How Does Grade Curving Work?

The calculator uses two approaches to curve grades:

\[ \text{Points Method: } \text{Curved Grade} = \text{Original Grade} + \text{Curve Points} \] \[ \text{Percentage Method: } \text{Curved Grade} = \text{Original Grade} \times (1 + \frac{\text{Curve Percentage}}{100}) \]

Where:

Original Grade — The student's original score (0-100%)
Curve Points — Fixed points added to each grade
Curve Percentage — Percentage increase applied to each grade

3. Types of Grade Curves

Points Curve: Adds a fixed number of points to each student's score. Simple but can disproportionately help higher-scoring students.

Percentage Curve: Applies a percentage increase to each student's score. More equitable as it maintains relative differences between students.

4. Using the Calculator

Steps: Enter your original grade (0-100%), select curve type (points or percentage), enter the curve amount, and click Calculate. The curved grade will be displayed (capped at 100%).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why curve grades?
A: Curving adjusts for tests that may have been unexpectedly difficult or to align grades with predetermined distributions.

Q2: What's better - points or percentage curve?
A: Points curves are simpler but percentage curves maintain relative performance differences between students.

Q3: Is there a maximum curved grade?
A: Yes, the calculator caps curved grades at 100% to prevent impossible scores.

Q4: Can I curve grades down?
A: While technically possible (with negative points or percentages), curving is typically used to increase scores.

Q5: Do all teachers curve grades?
A: No, grading policies vary. Some use strict scales while others adjust based on class performance.