Midterms and Tuesday!

1.) Midterm exam grades are in! Read all the info below for a breakdown of how the midterm scoring worked....

2.) On Tuesday it's back to work! We'll start chapter 12 on Tuesday--one more chapter on how to collect data. We'll cover chapter 12 for about 1.5 weeks, and then the plan is to have a unit test on data collection on Friday, 2/1 (Sample Surveys, Experimental Design, and Observational Studies)!

Want to get a head start and have some free time? Read the chapter (12 in our book) on sample surveys! Lots of vocab here!

3.) First stamp problem of the third quarter is at the bottom of this post!

Midterm Exam Scoring Breakdown:

1. First, I graded your exams and calculated your raw score, or the overall % of the exam points you earned. Raw scores ranged from 16.75% correct to 92.5% correct.
2. Next, I listed all exam scores in order, from highest to lowest (see the raw score conversion chart below).
3. Third, I used the distribution of the 2018 AP Exam scores as well as recent "cut score" data (what raw scores correspond to what AP scores) to establish cut scores for our exam (see below).
4. Finally, I used converted all raw scores to projected AP score (1,2, 3, 4, 5), and then translated those grades to numeric midterm scores...
• So, if you got an A that translates to a projected 5, a B to a projected 4, C projects to a 3, a D projects to a 2, and an F to a 1.
• Additionally, you can gauge how "close" you were to a score--for instance, if you got a 69 on the midterm, that means you were realllly close to a projected 3! (focus on the positive)!

Many of us did not put enough work to try to earn stamps last quarter, and as a result, missed an opportunity to boost our average, or in many cases (and even worse), our stamp grade lowered our average--don't let this happen! 

You have to take advantage of stamp opportunities if you want to do well in that grade!

First stamp problem of the second quarter: answer each question below on separate paper!

1. Write your name, your raw score (use the table above to work backward from your midterm grade in PowerSchool), and your projected AP score (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

2. Reflect on your preparation for the exam. Write at least 3 complete sentences reflecting on your preparation; here are some things to consider--you don't have to answer all of these, this is just me trying to offer some things you might reflect on--or maybe you don't write about any of this stuff!

• What went well for you in your exam prep/studying?
• How did you study for the exam--what worked? what didn't? What might you do differently next time?
• Did you study? If not, why not? What did you learn from this experience?
• How will you prepare for the AP exam differently? Or will you do the same thing you did for the midterm?
• How does your midterm performance affect your view of the AP exam in May?

3. Now, consider our whole class performance--what are 3 positives from our midterm exam performance this year?

4. Again, consider our whole class performance (this year)--what are two things that we need to improve on?

ALL ANSWERS MUST BE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. 

Overall I think this data is positive, and this midterm suggests we're in a pretty good place moving forward, but we definitely have work to do to improve. I think this shows there are many things that we know and can do well, and if we can all continue to work to improve we definitely have the potential to earn the highest % of "qualifying scores" (3 or above) in EHHS AP Stat history.

In terms of areas for improvement, two things stood out to me:

1.) Many of us were very lazy with our written answers. This can't happen. I intend to be MUCH more harsh with my grading in regard to this, as many of  us aren't following through--like I have mentioned in class, if we are lazy/half-ass on our homework responses that's what we'll do on our test. No more homework credit for lazy answers. 

2.) Many of us did not put in the effort to learn from our mistakes. This makes me question how much/how little some of us studied, as we missed many opportunities for "easy" points because we did not put in the time/effort to learn from our mistakes, and as a result, made the same mistakes on the exam. Life is about learning from experience. 

These will continue to be areas of emphasis for the second semester.

I can't wait to see you all on Tuesday! Until then, have an amazing (long weekend), get this stamp done NOW, and read chapter 12! 

DO BETTER THAN YOU DID IN SEMESTER 1 (even if you had a 100% average). We can all always do better.

I plan to do the same.

Peace. See ya'll soon.