IB Biology II Class Grading
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 class grading scale will be used in IB Biology II:
Why such a generous adjustment?
Our focus in IB Biology II is on LEARNING, not grades. Students who LEARN do not have to play a points game to earn a decent grade. At our school there is an insidious tendency to care about nothing but grades and scores. It may seem counterintuitive to some, but I’ve found that having this system helps relieve much of the stress and anxiety students feel about grades, so they can focus on authentic LEARNING and curiosity about the subject.
Doesn’t everyone get an A, thereby lowering the perceived value of the high grade?
Actually, no. While many students do earn A’s, not all students do. The assessments are difficult (of course while still being fair) and it is actually hard to earn an A without actually LEARNING the content.
Do students take advantage and slack off because of the score adjustment scheme?
No. That’s because we have a culture of LEARNING in our class. Slacking off isn’t tolerated in class or on assessments.
What do students think about this grade adjustment system?
Read these comments from past students about the benefits of the grade adjustment system. You’ll see, the focus on LEARNING is evident!
What are the IB equivalency scores?
Read this link for a description of each of the IB grade descriptors.
Our focus in IB Biology II is on LEARNING, not grades. Students who LEARN do not have to play a points game to earn a decent grade. At our school there is an insidious tendency to care about nothing but grades and scores. It may seem counterintuitive to some, but I’ve found that having this system helps relieve much of the stress and anxiety students feel about grades, so they can focus on authentic LEARNING and curiosity about the subject.
Doesn’t everyone get an A, thereby lowering the perceived value of the high grade?
Actually, no. While many students do earn A’s, not all students do. The assessments are difficult (of course while still being fair) and it is actually hard to earn an A without actually LEARNING the content.
Do students take advantage and slack off because of the score adjustment scheme?
No. That’s because we have a culture of LEARNING in our class. Slacking off isn’t tolerated in class or on assessments.
What do students think about this grade adjustment system?
Read these comments from past students about the benefits of the grade adjustment system. You’ll see, the focus on LEARNING is evident!
What are the IB equivalency scores?
Read this link for a description of each of the IB grade descriptors.
You will earn points in this course based upon scores in the following categories:
Projects and Laboratory Work: (30% of course grade).
Collectively, projects and lab work are worth 40% of your overall SHS course grade. There are three ways this work will be assessed:
Tests and Quizzes: (50% of course grade).
Unit quizzes are based on the syllabus statements and objectives assigned in class and will usually occur once per unit of study. In IB Biology 2, the quizzes are composed of all former IB exam questions. There are multiple forms of quizzes given throughout the course:
You are permitted to retake a quiz IF you score less than an 84% (A-). Retakes will be completed during FLEX time or at a 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 84% on a quiz retake. You will earn the retake score up to the maximum (even if it is lower than the original).
In IB Biology 2, there is a short review quiz EVERY DAY. Read more about it here. The raw scores for these quizzes are recorded in a grade book category that is "no count," meaning the raw scores on the daily quizzes do not directly impact the class grade. However, at each midpoint and end of a grading period (mid-terms and ends of quarters), the cumulative overall percentage for the daily quizzes in the grade period will be used to calculate a quiz score that does count. So, over a semester there are four daily quiz scores that will count and be recorded in the regular quiz category. In order to recognize and reward improvement over time, if a student scores higher on the daily quiz cumulative score throughout the semester, then the earlier cumulative scores will be marked "no count" and will not impact the final grade.
Tests are given once per quarter and will be patterned after the external exams given by the IB. They will be detailed and comprehensive, including multiple-choice, calculation problems, and essay/discussion questions. The test are challenging, there is no doubt. However, please remember that there are generous grade bands. 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.
Class Work and Notebook Checks (20% of course grade).
All knowledge audits, 1-page summaries and check-in work completed throughout the course are considered class work. The optional supplemental reading assignment and all "above and beyond" points are added into the class work category of the grade.
Projects and Laboratory Work: (30% of course grade).
Collectively, projects and lab work are worth 40% of your overall SHS course grade. There are three ways this work will be assessed:
- Collaboration, lab skills, safety and responsibility will be observed.
- Completion of project/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.
- One formal lab will be completed with final draft quality and assessed using the IB Internal Assessment standards. This lab (the "internal assessment") is a hefty proportion of your class and IB scores, it is important that you submit your best work.
Tests and Quizzes: (50% of course grade).
Unit quizzes are based on the syllabus statements and objectives assigned in class and will usually occur once per unit of study. In IB Biology 2, the quizzes are composed of all former IB exam questions. 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 individually, with notes.
- Announced quiz taken as a student group. Everyone in the group earns the same score.
You are permitted to retake a quiz IF you score less than an 84% (A-). Retakes will be completed during FLEX time or at a 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 84% on a quiz retake. You will earn the retake score up to the maximum (even if it is lower than the original).
In IB Biology 2, there is a short review quiz EVERY DAY. Read more about it here. The raw scores for these quizzes are recorded in a grade book category that is "no count," meaning the raw scores on the daily quizzes do not directly impact the class grade. However, at each midpoint and end of a grading period (mid-terms and ends of quarters), the cumulative overall percentage for the daily quizzes in the grade period will be used to calculate a quiz score that does count. So, over a semester there are four daily quiz scores that will count and be recorded in the regular quiz category. In order to recognize and reward improvement over time, if a student scores higher on the daily quiz cumulative score throughout the semester, then the earlier cumulative scores will be marked "no count" and will not impact the final grade.
Tests are given once per quarter and will be patterned after the external exams given by the IB. They will be detailed and comprehensive, including multiple-choice, calculation problems, and essay/discussion questions. The test are challenging, there is no doubt. However, please remember that there are generous grade bands. 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.
Class Work and Notebook Checks (20% of course grade).
All knowledge audits, 1-page summaries and check-in work completed throughout the course are considered class work. The optional 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 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.
