The 10/30 Rule

In general, your quiz average (which may include homework) is half your grade, and your final
exam grade is half your grade. These are averaged to get your course grade1:

Example: quiz average of 89, final exam of 81: (81 + 81) / 2 = 85 = B for the semester.

How the 10/30 Rule Works

Part 1: “The 10”

If your final exam grade is at least 10 points above your quiz average, your quiz average is
automatically raised to 10 points below your final exam grade.
Examples:
1) Quiz average 72, final exam 89. The 72 quiz average automatically becomes an 89 – 10 = 79.
Course grade = (79 + 89) / 2 = 84 = B.
2) Quiz average 0, final exam 89. The 0 quiz average automatically becomes an 89 – 10 = 79.
Course grade = (79 + 89) / 2 = 84 = B.
3) Quiz average 85. Final exam 89. 85 is within 10 points of 89, so the quiz grade stays as is.
Course grade = (85 + 89) / 2 = 87 = B+

Part 2: “The 30”

If your final exam is at least 30 points below your quiz average, your quiz average is
automatically lowered to 30 points above your final exam grade.

Examples:
1) Quiz average 95, Final exam 67. These are within 30 points of each other, so no effect.
Course grade = (95 + 67) / 2 = 81 = B-
2) Quiz average 97, final exam 64. The final exam is more than 30 points below the quiz
average, so the quiz average is automatically lowered from 97 to 64 + 30 = 94.
Course grade = (94 + 64) / 2 = 79 = C+

1
One exception is that some extra credit may apply to your final exam, but the 10/30 Rule is based on the final
exam grade before extra credit is applied.
3) Quiz average 110, final exam 40. The final exam is more than 30 points below the quiz
average, so the quiz average is automatically lowered from 110 to 40 + 30 = 70.
Course grade = (70 + 40) / 2 = 55 = F

“So the quiz grades don’t matter?”

Of course they matter! If you have a 77 on the final exam, your quiz average after the 10/30
Rule is applied will be anywhere between a 67 (course average 72 = C-) and a 107 (course
average 92 = A-).

Why the 10/30 Rule exists

“The 10”: If someone walks away from the class with a good mastery of the material, they
should not be overly penalized for it taking them a while to get there.
“The 30”: All quizzes are take-home, and thus someone can get excellent quiz grades by
copying answers from the right people without actually learning the material. This rule functions
as a “net” to keep anyone who does this from passing the course, as those points will disappear.

TLDR: When you work with others, really work, as to get through the class you need a decent
mastery of the material.