Definition
The statistical breakdown of grades in a course, theoretically reflecting student mastery but often revealing more about the instructor's grading philosophy. It's what separates the 'everyone gets an A' professors from the 'I've never given an A' professors.
Example Usage
The grade distribution showed that 60% of students earned Cs or below, prompting questions about whether the course was too hard or the teaching too poor.
Origin
Statistical analysis of grades became common in early 20th century educational psychology.
Fun Fact
Some universities now publish grade distributions publicly, leading to 'rate my professor' effects where students seek out easy graders regardless of learning quality.
Related Terms
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