Blog: FAQ

¿Will I Pass this Course?

No one really knows the answers to those questions—it's totally up to the person's abilities, time resources, and work ethic.

However, there are some pretty good statistics after you have completed the first two exams. Based on past classes, the statistics below give a very good indication of how the class members in general will finish the course. Final course grades for student in past classes have been correlated with their corresponding Exams 1-2 Average. So, with your Exams 1-2 Average in hand, you can get an indication of where you stand compared to past students who have taken the same course.  If interested, keep reading.

Note the following table. Below, I will give the interpretation, and you can determine if it is meaningful to you.

This table represents grades for 152 students who have completed this course in the past. Here's how to read the table:

• Every person who finished the course with an A, had an Exam 1–2 average between 86 & 105.In other words, every person with an Exam 1–2 average below 86 has made a B or lower
• Every person who finished the course with an B, had an Exam 1–2 average between 74 & 92. In other words, every person with an Exam 1–2 average below 74 has made a C or lower
• Every person who finished the course with an C, had an Exam 1–2 average between 66 & 80 (two exceptions). In other words, with two exceptions, every person with an Exam 1–2 average below 66 has made a D or lower. 
• Every person who finished the course with an D, had an Exam 1–2 average between 52 & 74. In other words, every person with an Exam 1–2 average below 52 has made an F.
• Every person who finished the course with an F, had an Exam 1–2 average between 25 & 74.

Essentially, this means that a person who has an average on Exams 1–2 below an 86 will not likely, based on past students, make an A. The further the person's average is from 86, the less the likelihood of making an A. It doesn't mean it can't be done, it merely means it hasn't happened in the past. You can interpret the other ranges similarly.

These data suggest that, should you have an Exam 1–2 average near or below 52, you are very unlikely to pass the class. 

I appreciate transcript grades  have important consequences in the future, and I would not have you ignorant of the general guidance above before you make any "stay–drop" decision. Once a grade is on your transcript, it cannot be removed. Even if you take the class again and pass it, your original score stays on your transcript for future interviewers to see. 

I sincerely hope these statistics help you in determining how to handle any "Drop or No-drop" decision you might be considering. 

¿How Much Time Do I Need To Study?

Although the amount of time one needs to study to be successful depends on a number of factors (study environment, IQ, health, ect.), the general rule-of-thumb which has held for over 30 years is as follows:

• The average A Student studies three hours outside of class for every one hour spent in lecture class. This is a 3-hour course, so on average, the A Student will study three hours at home, not including class time.
• The average B Student studies two hours outside of class for every one hour spent in lecture class.
• The average C Student studies one hour outside of class for every one hour spent in lecture class.
• The student who merely shows up for class, and whose study is limited to 'craming' for exams, makes a D or F.

For an online class, this would translate to 12 hours/week for an A; 9 hours/week for a B; and 6 hours/week for an C.  Again, this is only a trend—but it does provide one with general idea of the time requirement to achieve a certain level of performance.