The factors that determine grades can be simple or complex, dictated by the district administrators or established by the teachers, affected by little things like showing up to class with a pen, or bigger things, like passing the final exam. In the end, the factors that determine grades depend on the class, the student, the teacher and the school. There are, however, a few standbys that most educators rely on when determining their students' grades.

Some General Factors that Determine Grades

Almost all teachers use test scores when calculating final grades. You will rarely find teacher, especially at the secondary level, who does not use the occasional test to gauge a student's understanding of the subject matter. Therefore I think it safe to say that tests are one of the major factors that determine grades.

Another common part of grading is class work. Different teachers assign different types of class work, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a teacher who does not occasionally grade his or her students on some sort of class project. It is therefore safe to conclude that class work is another one of the most common factors that determine grades.

Daily participation grades and homework grades are also popular means of gauging student success, but not every teacher employs these particular kinds of measurement. Ultimately, the factors that determine grades vary quite a bit from teacher to teacher and class to class. It is the student's responsibility, however, to make sure he or she is clear on these factors at the beginning of the term in order to avoid misunderstandings later.