Mid-Term is Optional - Puzzle Contest for Dec'08

Discussion in 'Topic of the Month - Contest' started by Jey, Dec 10, 2008.

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  1. Jey

    Jey Administrator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear IL'ites,

    The correct answers are...


    1.What is the professor trying to achieve by making mid-term optional?

    • She is trying to keep the students (particularly those who scored less than 40 marks in mid-term) motivated to study the subject throughout the course.
    • If a student gets less than 40 marks in mid-term, he has no chance of getting an A grade. Even if he gets full 50 marks in final, he still gets a B grade. Consequently the student will lose interest in the subject. If the student can override his mid-term marks with final marks, then he essentially starts over. To get an “A” grade, the student just needs to do the final exam well and get more than 45 marks.
    2.Why didn't she make the final exam optional?

    • That would make the students who got more than 45 marks in mid-term to completely ignore the second half of the course. Because, they essentially have locked in an “A” grade. Similarly, those who got less than 40 marks would also give up, because they essentially got a B grade. It will only keep the students who got between 40 and 45 marks interested to take the final exam.
    3.What type of a student will skip taking the mid-term exam?

    • Only the student who is 100% confident that he will get more than 45 marks in final will skip the mid-term exam.
    At its core, economics is all about incentives and that is what makes it a fascinating subject.
     
  2. vkrithika1

    vkrithika1 Gold IL'ite

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    dear Jey,

    Thankyou very much.THe answers to the questions are so perfect.So nice of you to give the prize even if we are not fully correct.


    THankyou verymuch.
     
  3. chitti67

    chitti67 Silver IL'ite

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    Hi Krithikan n Sandy congrats to both of u..
     
  4. swathi14

    swathi14 IL Hall of Fame

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    Congratulations to the winners.

    Dear Jey,

    Could not think of the answers for the 2nd & 3rd question. Excellent thinking.

    Andal
     
  5. Arunarc

    Arunarc Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Hi Krithika and Sandy
    Congrats for winning the Mid term is optional contest.
     
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