Directives

REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE
ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY
RELATIVE GRADING DIRECTIVE

Introductory Provisions

Purpose
ARTICLE 1- (1) The purpose of this Directive is to establish the principles concerning the academic achievement status of students studying at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.

Scope
ARTICLE 2- (1) This Directive covers the faculties and schools affiliated with Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.

Basis
ARTICLE 3- (1) This Directive has been prepared on the basis of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation.

Definitions
ARTICLE 4- (1) In the implementation of this Directive;

a) Weighted Average: At least one midterm and one final examination are held for each course in the relevant semester. The contribution rates of the midterm examination(s), quiz(zes) and in-semester work, together with the final examination, to the weighted grade average of the course are determined by the member of the teaching staff who teaches the course. However, the contribution of the final examination to the weighted grade average of the course may not be less than 50%.

b) Relative Grading: A system that determines a student's level of achievement by taking into account the scores of all students taking the course in the class, based on the weighted average calculated according to the contribution rates of the midterm examination(s), quiz(zes), in-semester work and the final examination.

c) Relative Grading Inclusion Limit (BDKL): The lower limit, out of 100 points, of the student achievement scores to be included in relative grading. This limit is applied as a raw achievement score of 15 in all units. Students below the BDKL are directly awarded an FF grade. These students are not included in the relative grading.

ç) Achievement Coefficient: The equivalent of the letter grade on a scale of 0.00 to 4.00.

d) Achievement Grade Lower Limit (BNAL): The lower limit of the achievement grade required to pass a course or practical work is applied as 30. Students below this grade are deemed unsuccessful and are directly awarded an FF grade. However, the grades of these students are included in the relative grading.

e) Assessment: The process of arriving at a value judgment and/or decision by comparing a student's score against a criterion.

f) Raw Achievement Grade: The grade obtained out of 100 by calculating, according to the determined weights, a student's midterm examination(s), quiz(zes), in-semester work and final examination grades in a course.

g) Grade: The letter or numerical value indicating the value judgment or decision reached by comparing student scores against a criterion.

ğ) Measurement: The determination of the results of observing student achievement by means of numbers or numerical symbols. Student achievement is determined on a scale of 100 points.

h) Final Examination Lower Limit (FSAL): Refers to the lower limit of the final examination grade required to pass a course or practical work. The lower limit for the final examination is applied as 30. Students who score below 30 out of 100 points are deemed unsuccessful and are directly awarded an FF grade. However, these students are included in the relative grading.

Principles for the Implementation of Relative Grading
ARTICLE 5- (1) The principles for the implementation of relative grading are determined by three different methods. These methods are explained below;

a) The method used when the number of students included in the relative grading is 10 or fewer;

1) If the number of students included in the relative grading is 10 or fewer, the member of the teaching staff awards the relative grades in a manner they deem appropriate.

b) The method used when the number of students included in the relative grading is between 11 and 29;

1) If the number of students included in the relative grading is between 11 and 29, students' raw achievement scores are converted into grades according to Table 1, taking the class average into account.

TABLE 1

c) The method used when the number of students included in the relative grading is 30 or more;

1) If the number of students included in the relative grading is 30 or more, students' raw achievement scores are converted into grades according to Table 2, taking the class average into account. This table has been prepared by following the steps below.

Step I: The class average of the students eligible for relative grading is calculated:

= Average of the class scores

X= Student achievement score

N= Class size (the number of students to be included in the relative grading)

Step II: The standard deviation of the class is calculated:

S= Standard deviation

∑X2= The sum of the squares of the achievement scores of the students included in the relative grading

(∑X)2= The square of the sum of the achievement scores of the students included in the relative grading

Step III: First, the Z score of each student is calculated. The following formula is used to calculate the Z score:

Z= A student's Z score

Step IV: Z scores are converted into T scores using the following formula.

T = 50 + 10 (Z)

Step V: After each student's T score has been calculated, the letter grade is determined according to Table 2.

TABLE 2

2) Students who meet the BDKL requirement but who do not exceed the Final Examination Lower Limit (FSAL) and the Achievement Grade Lower Limit (BNAL) are directly awarded an FF grade and are included in the class average.

3) When calculating students' Raw Success Grade, if the third digit after the decimal point is five or greater, the second digit is rounded up by one; if the third digit is four or less, the second digit is left unchanged.

4) When calculating the Class Average, Standard Deviation, T Score, and Z Score, if the third digit after the decimal point is five or greater, the second digit is rounded up by one; if the third digit is four or less, the second digit is left unchanged.

5) The grades of students who, despite being eligible to take the final exam, do not take it, or who are unable to take it due to absenteeism, are not included in the Class Average or the Relative Evaluation.

6) If the class's raw success grade average in a course is 70 or above, no statistical method is applied. In this case, the student's success grade in that course is determined by taking into account the letter grades and coefficients corresponding to the success grade shown in the first paragraph of Article 32 of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation.

7) As a result of relative evaluation, a student may not be given a letter grade lower than the equivalent of their score in the grade conversion table shown in the first paragraph of Article 32 of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation.

8) Students with the same raw success grade are not given different letter grades as a result of relative evaluation.

9) The relative evaluation system is not used for internships, projects, theses, seminars, and similar courses.

Entry into Force
ARTICLE 6- (1) This Directive enters into force on the date it is accepted by the Senate of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.

Execution
ARTICLE 7- (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.