Xavier University Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Grading Standards

Undergraduate Grading System

A: Exceptional. The student's attainments are out of the normal course, unusual and special.
B: Good. The student's performance is done rightfully or skillfully and is commendable.
C: Satisfactory. The student's accomplishments are sufficient for the needs of the course.
D: Minimal passing.
F: Failure.

The department's judgments are directed by the following taxonomy, based on Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives.

Knowledge is defined as the remembering of appropriate previously learned information and articulating it. This information includes terminology, specific facts, structures, notations and definitions.

Comprehension is the grasping and understanding of informational materials including the ability to: follow the lecture, read the text with understanding, give examples, and give summary restatements of the course material.

Application is the use of previously learned information in concrete situations to solve problems that have single or best answers. Activities demonstrating application apply known material in a very specific instance and include computing, constructing, extending, implementing,participating, showing, solving, and utilizing.

Analysis is the resolution of informational materials into their component parts, reflecting on such information to develop solutions, making inferences and finding evidenceto support generalizations. Analysis includes facility with word problems and an ability to differentiate, distinguish, infer, limit, prioritize, separate and prove.

Synthesis is the creative application of prior knowledge and skills to produce a new or original whole. Activities demonstrating synthesis include proof writing, significant programming projects, and research papers and projects. Synthesis includes the ability to clearly and accurately communicate not only the result of one's creative endeavors but also the steps taken to achieve it.

Using this taxonomy, we interpret the undergraduate grading system as follows:

D: Minimum passing indicates the student demonstrates the appropriate knowledge.
C: Satisfactory indicates that in addition to knowledge, the student in general demonstrates comprehension and with some frequency demonstrates application.
B: Good indicates that the student regularly demonstrates both comprehension and application and demonstrates analysis and synthesis with some regularity.
A: Exceptional indicates that the student regularly demonstrates achievement in all categories of the taxonomy.