Mastery Grading for AP Part 3: Grading Scales

In Part 1, we covered the “why” for Mastery Grading.
In Part 2, we covered Learning Targets
Now in Part 3, we cover grading scales  

To review, the 3 parts of Mastery Grading are:

1. Learning Targets (Objectives, standards etc)
   • Specific and measurable
   • This is an example for Unit 1 in AP^® Environmental Science
2. Grades based on evidence of individual learning and understanding. 

• Students’ grades are based on evidence of individual learning and understanding. 
• More frequent assessment and students are allowed one re-take
  • This is a product for AP^® Environmental Science which has 1000+ questions for quizzing
• “Practice” (homework, classwork) is worth 0% of grade. 

3. Fair Grading Scales in Mastery Grading

• I use a 14 point grading scale
• This is similar to a 4-point grading scale, but allows for more nuances in performance.
• We looked at 4-point, 8-point etc and liked this one the best. 

I worked with another teacher as we transitioned to mastery grading to decide on a grading scale. I found several examples online and from grading gurus and school districts. Most are on a 4-point scale, but we adapted a 14 point scale that we found from a district in another state. The picture below is our first scale. We adjusted it slightly at the lower end the second year for our on-level NGSS Biology classes, but I think this original scale is better for AP^®.

What I like about Mastery Grading

What I like about this scale is that there’s room for pluses and minuses and it melts better with our current grading system (Infinite Campus) which will not average out of a number different than 100 points/percent.  I have some images of 4 point scales at the bottom of this post. We also like that

• Grading is often based on “words” such as “mastery”, “Accomplished” which is more accurate and often faster to grade.
• I evaluate sections of student work that are independent learning.
• I base my lab grades on rubrics and other guidelines.

Mastery Grading Labs

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I use stamps for lab work which is fast and easy to grade a lab holistically based on the parts that the students did independently.  To be honest, this is difficult to do with labs where students collaborate a lot and I’m still trying to find a good way to do this. For students who earned “accomplished”, we add a + next to the check on mastery.

What I learned about Mastery Grading

• Students had a lot of difficulty at the beginning of the year understanding the mastery grading 14 point scale and panicked when they received a “7” for example which is a “C” and not an “F”
  • To help, I went through the scale often and posted in many places. 

What I also learned

• How to use our LMS, Infinite Campus “Marks” for mastery grading
• I learned I needed to adjust the scale at the low end and change some wording.
• I rarely give below a “2” which still indicates a poor performance, but does not tank a student grade.
  • We will use a “1” if it’s obvious a student JUST guessed and then give the student a retake. 

My content/reading quizzes do not have a “curve” or holistic grading as they are low-level questions to check that they are learning content. To help make grading faster, I have a spreadsheet that converts points possible to a number on the 14 point scale. This makes frequent assessments easier to quickly grade and put in the grade book. Check our Part 2 to we how I create quizzes.

Here are some examples of 4 point grading scales that we considered, but decided to use the 14 point scale. 

Here is one example of using a 4 point scale in a traditional gradebook

Mastery Grading is a gradual process as its too much on any one teacher to do in one year or on their own. Collaboration and baby steps are important to be kind to yourself. Keep reading for more information.

For more information read:
Part 1 which covers “Why Mastery Grading?”
Part 2 which covers Learning Targets/Goals/Objectives.
Part 4 which will cover grading based on evidence of individual learning and understanding along with logistics. 

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