First figure your homework grade.  Your HW percentage is your total
number of HW points divided by the number of HW points which are possible.
There are about 2100 possible HW points for the entire semester.  However, 
we will figure the final HW percentage out of only 1890 points (or about
90% of all possible points should the number of possible points change).  
You can't get more than 100% though, so once you have 1890 points you don't 
need to submit any more HW (although hopefully you will find the process of 
submission and feedback to be good practice for the tests). 

     Your MP gradebook ("My Scores") gives you your total MP points for
the year.  Add your scores on the written problems to this number; what 
results is your total number of HW points.  As an example, say you have 
earned 1537.2 MP points and 126 points on the written problems.  Your total 
HW points for the semester would then be:

              1537.2 + 126 = 1663.2 total HW points

With 1663.2 HW points for the semester your HW percentage would be:

                      1663.2/1890  = 88.0%

HW is worth 8 points overall, so you would have earned 7.04 HW points
(i.e. 88.0% of 8)

   715 HOMEWORK POINTS ARE REQUIRED FOR A PASSING GRADE IN THE COURSE.
             LESS THAN 715 HOMEWORK POINTS IS AN AUTOMATIC E.



     Now figure your Turning Point grade.  There are expected to be about
50 TP questions over the course of the semester, so the maximum possible
TP score will be about 150 points.  The final TP grade will be determined
as a percentage out of 135 points (or about 90% of all possible TP points
should the number of possible TP points change).  In Fall 2010, there
ended up being 58 TP questions, so the final percentage was taken out
of 150 points (86.2% of 174)  Say you have earned 125 TP points for the
semester.  Your TP percentage would be

                       125/150 = 83.3%.

TP is worth 5 points overall, so your TP points for the semester are
4.17 (83.3% of 5).



     OK, now figure your recitation grade.  We grade quizzes out of 
20 points and we take your best 4 of 5 quizzes.  Say your best 4 quizzes 
total up to 59 points.  We grade group exercises out of 10 points and
we take your best 8 out of 10 group exercises.  Say your best 8 group
exercises total up to 72 points.  Your recitation average is 59 points
plus 72 points divided by the total recitation points possible, which
is 160 points (8 exercises plus 4 quizzes).  So your recitation average
is

                 (59+72)/160 = 81.9%

Your recitation grade is worth 7 points overall so your recitation 
points for the semester are 5.73 (82% of 7).



     Now figure your test total.  Take your best 3 MC scores and your
best 3 free-response scores, add them all, divide by 3, then divide by
125, and then multiply by 60.  For example, say your MC grades are
35, 55, 57, and 47, and say your free-response grades are 54, 48, 36,
and 56.  Your test average is then                     
                                                              
     (55+57+47 + 54+48+56)/3 = 105.7 out of 125

We now divide by 125 and multiply by 60 since the Tests are worth
60 points overall.

     105.7/125 times 60 = 50.7 




     OK, now you have your pre-exam total.


              HW         7.04
              TP         4.17
              RECITATION 5.73
              TEST      50.72

                total   67.66


The pre-exam maximum is 80 points, so your pre-exam percentage is

           67.66/80 = 84.57%


     Will you be able to get an A?  That depends on what the final
grade scale is.  I start with no curve.  That is 

                 90 and above           A
                 80-90                  B
                 70-80                  C
                 60-70                  D
                 below 60               E

If the class average is 75 or higher, there is no change.  If the
class average falls below 75, I feel obliged to relax this scale
somewhat.  Look at 

                131 Fall 2009 web page , or
                131 Fall 2008 web page , or
                131 Fall 2007 web page , or
                131 Spring 2007 web page , or
                131 Spring 2006 web page , or
                131 Spring 2005 web page , or
                131 Fall 2002 web page , or
                131 Spring 2002 web page , or
                131 Fall 2001 web page , or
                131 Fall 1999 web page 

to get an idea for what this year's scale might be.  I will make 
a guess at the final grade scale a week or two before the exam,
but the true final grade scale ultimately depends on overall class 
exam performance.


     Let's get back to our example.  You have 67.66 points going in
to the exam.  The exam is worth 20 so the best you can do is 87.66,
not enough to get an A if the class average is 75 or higher.  On
the other hand, you need at least 12.34 points from the exam to 
absolutely insure yourself of a B.  The exam consists of 40 multiple
choice questions, so you need to get at least (12.34/20)*40 right,
or 25 out of 40, to absolutely insure yourself of a B. 

Thanks. GBA