The rules
Mastered / Not Yet
Most standards are graded all-or-nothing — Mastered or Not Yet, with no partial marks and no averaging across attempts. The three Synthesis standards are the one exception (see below).
Your grade
Your course grade is the share of the 18 standards you've mastered. Most are worth about 4.2% each. The three Synthesis standards are scored on a 0–3 scale — each level is worth about 4.2%, up to about 12.5% each.
Synthesis standards
Three standards hand you an unstructured problem with no method named — you decide the approach. Because that judgment is the real goal of the course, they aren't pass/fail: they're scored 0–3 (0 = not assessable, 1 = progressing, 2 = proficient, 3 = exceeds), assessed at checkpoints through the term, and worth up to 3× a regular standard.
Three windows per standard
Every content standard is assessed on three scheduled occasions: the short quiz where it's introduced, then the next two checkpoints. Standards taught before Midterm 1 are reassessed on Midterm 1 and Midterm 2; standards taught after are reassessed on Midterm 2 and the final. In some cases, your instructor may also offer a one-on-one to demonstrate mastery — this is at the instructor's discretion and class time is limited, so don't plan around it.
Best attempt wins
Reassessing never counts against you. Only your best result on each standard is recorded — an early "Not Yet" can't drag your grade down.
★ star
A ★ means you were just short on your written work — so close that you've earned the chance to finish the job in person. Come see your instructor and demonstrate that you've got it; convince them you've mastered the standard and the ★ becomes a Mastered.
Why we grade this way
Your grade reflects what you've learned
Your grade is built directly from the specific skills you've mastered. That makes it a clear, honest signal of what you can do — useful to you now and worth something later.
Room to learn and improve
Only your best attempt on each standard counts, so you're free to practice, take in feedback, and keep improving over the term. Finding something tricky at first is a normal part of learning.
You always know the target
Every standard spells out exactly what mastery looks like under "To show mastery, I can…" There's no guessing what the assessment expects.
Feedback you can act on
A "Not Yet" points to the precise skill to work on next — and you get real chances to come back and show you've got it.
You're not competing with anyone
Mastery isn't graded on a curve. Your grade depends only on the standards you've shown, never on how your classmates did — so helping a classmate never costs you, and a strong class never raises the bar against you.
No single day decides your grade
Every standard comes back around, so one rough quiz or off morning can't define you. That takes the pressure off any single assessment and lets you show what you actually know.
You're in control of your grade
You always know exactly what each standard asks, and you decide when you're ready to show it. Steady effort turns straight into results — what you put in is what shows up in your grade.
Questions students ask
What if I do badly on the first assessment?
Early attempts can't hurt you. Every standard gives you three scheduled windows across the quizzes and midterms, and only your best result is ever recorded. In some cases your instructor may offer a one-on-one — but that's at their discretion, so plan around the scheduled windows. Think of the first try as a checkpoint, not a verdict.
"All-or-nothing" sounds harsh — is it?
It would be if you only got one shot. But every standard gives you three scheduled attempts, only your best result counts, and the ★ pathway catches near-misses. You don't have to nail every standard the first time — you just have to get there eventually.
Can I just keep retrying until I pass?
The chances are real but not unlimited: each standard has three scheduled windows — the quiz where it's introduced, then the next two checkpoints. Treat every window as a genuine attempt rather than saving it for later, and you'll have the best shot at mastering everything before the term ends.
What happens if I never master a standard?
Your grade is the share of standards you've mastered, so one you haven't reached yet simply isn't counted — there's no extra penalty stacked on top, and nothing stops you from mastering it at the next window. Between the three scheduled windows and the ★ pathway, you get repeated chances to get there before the term ends.
Do I have to re-study everything for the final?
No. The final only reassesses the most recent standards (those introduced after Midterm 1 that you haven't mastered yet) plus the Synthesis standards. Earlier standards had their three windows on the quizzes and Midterms 1 and 2. Anything you've already mastered stays mastered.
I understood it but made a small slip — does that count against me?
That's exactly what the ★ is for. If you were close, you earn the chance to demonstrate mastery in person instead of losing the whole standard over one slip.
How do I know what to study?
Open any standard on the Course Standards page and read "To show mastery, I can…" — that's the exact checklist you'll be assessed against. The "Common mistake to avoid" tells you the trap to watch for.
Ready to see what you'll be assessed on? All 18 standards, each with a mastery checklist and the common mistake to avoid.
View the 18 standards →