As a high school senior, it's natural to wonder how your final mark is calculated for each subject. Understanding how the mark is calculated will help you prepare for exams, complete assignments and make important decisions about university or college applications. In this post, we'll take a closer look at how grade 12 final marks are calculated.
Weighting of Evaluations
Each school will have its own evaluation policy; however, there are some guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education that all schools must follow. Typically, high school courses are divided into units, and each unit will have a weighting that represents the percentage of the final grade that it contributes. For example, a unit may be worth 20% of the final grade.
Evaluations are weighted based on their degree of difficulty and their importance to the course. Each evaluation should be used to assess specific learning goals, skills, and knowledge. Common evaluations include tests, quizzes, assignments, projects, and presentations.
Examples of Evaluations
Let's take a look at an example evaluation weighting for a Grade 12 Mathematics course:
| Evaluation | Weighting (%) |
|---|---|
| Tests | 50 |
| Assignments | 20 |
| Quizzes | 10 |
| Projects | 10 |
| Participation | 10 |
In this example, tests are weighted the most heavily, reflecting their high importance and degree of difficulty. Assignments and quizzes are also weighted heavily, whereas projects and participation are minor components of the final grade.
The Final Exam
The final exam is a critical component of the final grade. In Ontario, Grade 12 students take an exam in each of their core subjects that is administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). The final exam may contribute up to 30% of the final grade, depending on the course and the school's evaluation policy.
Grade Conversion
Each evaluation, including the final exam, is assigned a grade based on the specific evaluation criteria. For example, a test may be marked out of 50 and assigned a grade based on the percentage of correct answers. These grades are then converted to a percentage value that reflects the weighting of the evaluation.
Once all evaluations are completed and converted to percentage values, they are added together to determine the final grade.
Example Calculation
Let's take a look at an example calculation for a Grade 12 English course:
| Evaluation | Weighting (%) | Grade (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 20 | 80 |
| Midterm Exam | 30 | 85 |
| Final Exam | 30 | 75 |
| Assignments | 20 | 90 |
In this example, the final grade would be calculated as follows:
[(20 x 80) + (30 x 85) + (30 x 75) + (20 x 90)] / 100 = 80%
The final grade in this example is 80%.
Conclusion
Now that you have a better understanding of how grade 12 final marks are calculated, you can begin to plan your study and assignment completion strategies. By taking a strategic approach to your evaluation preparation, you'll be in a better position to achieve your academic goals.
