But when there is no standard and students are subject to tests created by and graded by egotistical narcissists, a curve can be the only way anyone passes the course at all. It simply wouldn’t be acceptable for 5 of 50 students to pass because professor egghead can’t write coherent question on a test.
I had classes where I didn’t make over a 50% on any test and still got an A because half the class dropped and the other half hung on for the curve like I did.
I think curves are more a result of poor teachers than anything.
> I think curves are more a result of poor teachers than anything
Precisely right - that's what I said, too. You fit a curve to see if your coursework/exams fit the students. But you don't fit a curve to ensure that "precisely 10% of the class gets A, 20% gets B" etc etc. If you dont like the grades your students are receiving, you either fix the coursework or the students.