Answer to Question #275775 in Economics of Enterprise for Fernando

Question

Two instructors announced that they “grade on the curve,” that is, give a fixed percentage of each of

the various letter grades to each of their classes. Their curves are as follows:

If a random student came to you and said that his object was to enroll in the class in which he could

expect the higher grade point average, which instructor would you recommend?

Answer 1

The student should enroll in the instructor B class.

Grading on the curve is a technique in which an instructor assigns grades in a manner that represents a normal distribution curve. The student grades are lumped towards the middle and outliers at either end. From the table we observe that instructor B assigns higher percentage of A grades than instructor A. We also observe that the next high grades i.e. B is also assigned by instructor B in a higher percentage than instructor A. Both the instructors assign C grade in an equal percentage i.e. 50%, hence no difference in them. Instructor A assigns higher percentage of grade D than instructor B and both the instructors assign equal percentage of grade F.

Hence if the student wants to enroll in a class in which he expects higher grade point average i.e. either A grade or B grade, the recommended instructor is B.