Hi,

I was wondering what's the point in retaking/upgrading a course mark if you didn't fail the course or don't need a specific mark in it for a program?

I believe that the original and the retake marks don't get averaged and are both counted for your cumulative average so you would need a very high mark to balance out the bad one to make a difference in the cumulative average.

And since it's marked as an upgrade course, you wouldn't receive another credit.

Thanks for any help

It depends on how important the course will be to you in the long run. For example, if you are first year Engineering student and do badly in your anthropology elective, then the odds are, retaking it really isn't going to do wonders for your future classes. As long as you never take another Anthro course again, and do well in all your other classes you should be fine.

However, if you do badly in a math course, you may wish to retake it since most upper year math courses build off first year material.

Strictly in terms of how it would be used in the calculation of your GPA, you're right it wouldn't do much to bring it up.

One of my TAs told me that it can actually look good on your transcript if you retake a course. Not sure how legit this is... maybe because it shows that you are willing to work hard to improve? Something to think about at least.

If it makes the difference between failing the first time and then retaking it and getting the credit, I think it would be worth it if the course is important. But if it is only to raise your mark, it probably wouldn't get much higher.

Originally Posted by EmilySusie

One of my TAs told me that it can actually look good on your transcript if you retake a course. Not sure how legit this is... maybe because it shows that you are willing to work hard to improve? Something to think about at least.

If it makes the difference between failing the first time and then retaking it and getting the credit, I think it would be worth it if the course is important. But if it is only to raise your mark, it probably wouldn't get much higher.

lol that depends on who sees it I guess. that reminds me of how in highschool a teacher told me that a 92 is seen better than a 98 because a 92 looks like you earned it and a 98 looks like the school gives them a way

That's true, but that's why they put the averages next to your grades. So they can compared with the rest of the class.

Originally Posted by sinthusized

lol that depends on who sees it I guess. that reminds me of how in highschool a teacher told me that a 92 is seen better than a 98 because a 92 looks like you earned it and a 98 looks like the school gives them a way

I heard the same thing...except it was apparently that the people who score in the 85-90 range are more likely to be critical thinkers and not just memorize everything in the short run.

Makes sense in ways...but basic math still says 98 > 92.

Originally Posted by Mowicz

I heard the same thing...except it was apparently that the people who score in the 85-90 range are more likely to be critical thinkers and not just memorize everything in the short run.

Hmm, you probably have a point there, but I still think that comparing to the class average is the best way to sort through students. The only variable other than human error on the part of the student in question, is the chance that most/all of the classmates just happen to be stupid. The fact that the school gives out marks wouldn't make a difference, unless of course it's only to that one student... then the police should be involved... *roll eyes*

But if you think about is a 98 is a 60average class means the student is doing exceptionally well compared to the average and he/she is very good in said subject. However a 92 in a 90 average class wouldn't tell the analyst that said student is just average, or technically slightly above average.

Just so everyone is clear as well, McMaster transcripts don't have an average, or a professors name or anything beside the courses. You get a short description of the name, the coursecode and then your grade.

Originally Posted by sinthusized

lol that depends on who sees it I guess. that reminds me of how in highschool a teacher told me that a 92 is seen better than a 98 because a 92 looks like you earned it and a 98 looks like the school gives them a way

That's such bull haha. I had to work my ass off to get anywhere near a 98 in highschool, 92 isn't as hard to get .. relatively anyways.

Originally Posted by feonateresa

That's such bull haha. I had to work my ass off to get anywhere near a 98 in highschool, 92 isn't as hard to get .. relatively anyways.

Everyone knows that after 90%, the rest comes from sucking up to the teacher :p

Anyway, while we're on the topic of this, I've noticed that a lot of people that have a 96% average or whatever tend to be... well... useless. They spend so much time studying what they need to know for school that they completely miss out on developing any practical skills from hobbies or other interests.

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

Everyone knows that after 90%, the rest comes from sucking up to the teacher :p

LOL, that statement reminds me of my elementary school. It's IMPOSSIBLE to get over a 95%. Throughout all my years in elementary none of my friends nor I have ever gotten above 95% in a course. I somehow broke that in grade 6 when I got 96% in some math category, I was soooo happy Lol Bullshit too, I aced all the tests >.> I guess my school believed in "there is always room for improvement" -_-

Originally Posted by feonateresa

That's such bull haha. I had to work my ass off to get anywhere near a 98 in highschool, 92 isn't as hard to get .. relatively anyways.

That tends to happen if you go to an "easier" high school. You had to haul ass to get a 90 (in science and math) at mine.

This just goes to show that high school marks really don't mean anything. =p

Is like no one reading or acknowledging my posts?

I'm sure that even if you had a 90 average, you were much higher than your class average. This means that you are exceptionally good in the material. High school marks tell people that you're above average in certain subjects, or you have the ability to memorize better than your average kid.

Originally Posted by jhan523

High school marks tell people that you're above average in certain subjects, or you have the ability to memorize better than your average kid.

It's true, that's how it normally does. Some schools (well, teachers I should say) like to "give away" marks, however. Man, some of the people in my high school would suck up so bad. The worst is when I would be waiting to ask the teacher a legitimate question about an assignment or something, and there would be some jerk taking up all of his/her time complementing him/her about his/her whatever just to get a few percent added on.




... some one needs to invent a word for referring to someone regardless of gender that doesn't stem from "they"...

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

... some one needs to invent a word for referring to someone regardless of gender that doesn't stem from "they"...

That would be so nice.