Class Grading Policy - IB Biology I
The class assessment will factor into your Skyline GPA and appear on your transcript. Your class grade is calculated against a high academic standard, appropriate for a college level course. You earn your grade; Ms. vB does not “give” grades. Grades will be updated and posted on-line on a regular basis. The final grade for the class will not be a surprise to you. Ms. vB DOES NOT ROUND GRADES (you are given ample opportunity to go above and beyond to raise your grade).
The following school wide IB grading scale will be used in IB Biology I:
You will earn points in this course based upon scores in the following categories:
Tests: (30% of course grade). Tests are given once per quarter and will be multiple choice examinations. They will be detailed and comprehensive. In order to recognize and reward improvement over time, if a student scores higher on a semester final (Q2 and Q4), then the midterm tests (Q1 and Q3) will be marked "no count" and will not impact the final grade.
Laboratory Work: (30% of course grade).
Collectively, lab work is worth 30% of your overall SHS course grade. There are four ways lab work will be assessed:
Quizzes: (30% of course grade).
Unit quizzes in IB Biology 1 are based on the syllabus statements and objectives assigned in class and will usually occur once per unit of study. There are multiple forms of quizzes given throughout the course:
You are permitted to retake a quiz IF you score less than an 88% (an A-). Retakes will be completed during FLEX time or at a Friday retake session. Students will have up to two weeks after the quiz is returned to retake. Please sign up for a retake by completing this form. Quizzes may be retaken only one time and you can earn a maximum of 88% on a quiz retake. You will earn the retake score up to the maximum (even if it is lower than the original).
Class Work and Notebook Checks (10% of course grade).
All knowledge audits, 1-page summaries and stamped work completed throughout the course are considered class work. The supplemental reading assignment and all "above and beyond" points are added into the class work category of the grade.
Tests: (30% of course grade). Tests are given once per quarter and will be multiple choice examinations. They will be detailed and comprehensive. In order to recognize and reward improvement over time, if a student scores higher on a semester final (Q2 and Q4), then the midterm tests (Q1 and Q3) will be marked "no count" and will not impact the final grade.
Laboratory Work: (30% of course grade).
Collectively, lab work is worth 30% of your overall SHS course grade. There are four ways lab work will be assessed:
- Skills, safety and responsibility will be observed during the lab period.
- Completion of lab related tasks, including graphing and analysis.
- At the end of each quarter, there is a lab practical exam. The exam tests your lab skills and the content learned throughout the quarter. Material from any/all of the labs can be questioned The lab composition book may be used during the assessment.
- The Group 4 Project assignments are part of your first semester laboratory work grade.
Quizzes: (30% of course grade).
Unit quizzes in IB Biology 1 are based on the syllabus statements and objectives assigned in class and will usually occur once per unit of study. There are multiple forms of quizzes given throughout the course:
- Surprise, “pop” quizzes completed individually.
- Announced quiz taken individually, with no notes.
- Announced quiz taken as a table team. Everyone in the group earns the same score.
You are permitted to retake a quiz IF you score less than an 88% (an A-). Retakes will be completed during FLEX time or at a Friday retake session. Students will have up to two weeks after the quiz is returned to retake. Please sign up for a retake by completing this form. Quizzes may be retaken only one time and you can earn a maximum of 88% on a quiz retake. You will earn the retake score up to the maximum (even if it is lower than the original).
Class Work and Notebook Checks (10% of course grade).
All knowledge audits, 1-page summaries and stamped work completed throughout the course are considered class work. The supplemental reading assignment and all "above and beyond" points are added into the class work category of the grade.
A major portion of the class work grade category is the notebook check. Students are required to maintain a large (3”-4”) spiral binder of all class work completed in class. The binders are checked once a quarter for organization, completion and accuracy. Binder check sheets for IB Biology 1 and IB Biology 2 list what needs to be in the binder. Because the course is cumulative over two years, you must keep and review material often. The organization and maintenance of the binder is therefore vital for your success in the IB Biology class. The binder will also become a helpful tool when you take a biology class in college.
