Midterm 2 Distribution

1PM Lecture
Mean = 30.1
Median = 30
Standard Deviation = 10.3
Maximum = 50 (there were 8)
Minimum = 10
Range = 40
N=131

3PM Lecture
Mean = 30.4
Median = 30
Standard Deviation = 10.1
Maximum = 50 (there were 4) Minimum = 10
Range = 40
N=118

Your TAs will have them on 11/19, I will bring them to lecture on 11/20.

How to think about your score. Yes, the midterm was challenging. The material we went through was as tough as it gets in this course. The remainder is relatively easy. I know midterms are difficult to take please understand that they are also difficult to write and to grade.

I think anyone who managed a 45-50 this time around is a solid "A" student. A similar performance on the final is most certainly an A in the course, keep up the good work.

People who managed a 40 -- depending on how you did on the first midterm either puts you in a "gray area" between an A and a B or a solid B. Your final performance will pretty much determine your final grade.

People who got a 30-35 are looking at mid-B to low B grades right now with the exception of some of you who did very well on the first midterm. Those who were very comfortable with the first midterm may be quite comfortable with the final because it is cumulative and thus still have a chance at an "A" grade.

Bottom line, grades are difficult to predict. Even at this point, I can only give you a rough idea of where you stand relative to your peers. I look at a lot of things when assigning a final grade -- final performance, total points, whether there was an "upward" trend in performance, whether the homeworks were complete.

People in the 20-25 range are still passing with C grades. Even if you did poorly on the first midterm, you did relatively well on the second midterm. I'll want you to keep up the good work and in a way, the final will be easier because it is cumulative so much of the material is review.

If you scored below a 20 on this midterm, I'd like to see/hear from you personally. I have also probably written a note to you on your exam. We should probably take the time to go over it to see how we can work together to raise your grade. Some of you in this range are in serious danger of failing the course.