11 replies to this topic

[kiran1818]

I was wondering what the grade curves in law schools are like, specifically UBC and UVic?
I've often read that getting Bs in law school is considered alright, but not great. But wouldn't that depend on your school and what the averages in your classes are?

Does UBC have a higher curve (where students achieve better marks, on average) or does UVic have the easier curve?

Any help from UBC and UVic law students would be really appreciated!

[mrstitch]

This is the grades info from UBC: http://www.law.ubc.c...ading_rules.pdf
I go to UBC law. Getting a B+ is considered very good--getting an A- is very rare in 1L. I would assume UVic is the same. Bs are the norm in law school, you have to adjust thinking about grades from undergrad.

[hefeweizen]

At UVic we have a "B average" - they don't call it a curve, which I think mean that the professors have more leeway to create that B average in whatever manner they want - they could have people spread out across the spectrum, or within a very tight band of B-, B, B+, and still have the same outcome. But I'd say, from mrstitch's description, that the schools are rather similar in the manner of difficulty and what's considered a "good" grade.

There are some schools where getting a B is a better thing - I'm pretty sure USask curves to a C+, for example - but I believe for both of the west coast schools you'll find that "alright, but not great" about describes it because the B is the average. You're not hurting yourself, but you're not distinguishing yourself, either.

[Stupor]

Here's the detailed breakdown of UBC's actual mark distribution for the last 3 years:

http://www.law.ubc.c...ices/grade.html

No one gets A+ averages. A few (presumably incredibly hard working and intelligent and also lucky) individuals get A and A- averages in 2L and 3L. 2-5% of 1Ls get A- averages. Lots of B+ and B averages. ~20% get B- or below.

Edited by Stupor, 29 January 2012 - 11:37 AM.

[wilkens]

One thing you have to understand is that this term "curve" is actually misused a lot.

At my school there is no curve, only a required average. I'm pretty sure this is the same thing at almost all other law schools. They grade to an average, not a curve. So theoretically, the professor could give half the class a C and the other half an A and it would conform to the B average. In reality, professors give about an even number of B's and B+'s and the outliers receive A's and C's.

It is going to be very difficult to get anything besides a B or a B+ in law school. To get a C grade you really have to screw up and to get an A you have to write a really good exam.

Generally, I would caution people to not care too much about the whole grading system. It seems like a lot of people who are not even in law school yet are spending time studying a law school's grade distribution policy. You sometimes may not even know why you do well in one course and poorly in another. At the end of the day grading in each class largely depends on what the professor is looking for not some school-wide policy.

[whereverjustice]

wilkens, on 29 January 2012 - 12:14 PM, said:

At my school there is no curve, only a required average. I'm pretty sure this is the same thing at almost all other law schools.

Huh. I didn't realize this was the case at UT. At Osgoode it is in fact a curve: 15% A-range, 60% B-range, and 25% C or D-range. Pluses are permitted for the top third of each range.

Here's the relevant policy at Queen's, also a bona fide curve. I haven't looked into other law schools.

[kiran1818]

Thanks for the replies everyone!
Wilkens-I know this seems a bit obsessive, I'm going to try to tone down my "grades, grades, grades" approach to school in the next couple of months. Maybe I'll enjoy learning more like that LOL.

[Mal]

Uvic and UBC have similar curves.

[StudentAmbassador_UVicLaw]

UVic doesn't curve per se, which mean our class averages fall typically around a B- to B.

[QuincyWagstaff]

kiran1818, on 29 January 2012 - 01:46 AM, said:

I was wondering what the grade curves in law schools are like, specifically UBC and UVic?
I've often read that getting Bs in law school is considered alright, but not great. But wouldn't that depend on your school and what the averages in your classes are?

Does UBC have a higher curve (where students achieve better marks, on average) or does UVic have the easier curve?

Any help from UBC and UVic law students would be really appreciated!

If you're suggesting that the grading standards of UBC and UVic are a significant consideration in your choice of which law school to attend, you really need to get a grip IMO.

Edited by QuincyWagstaff, 01 February 2012 - 04:08 PM.

[kiran1818]

QuincyWagstaff, on 01 February 2012 - 04:05 PM, said:

If you're suggesting that the grading standards of UBC and UVic are a significant consideration in your choice of which law school to attend, you really need to get a grip IMO.

No I'm not suggesting that. Nowhere in my post does is indicate that I'm suggesting that.
But even if I WAS suggesting that, how would that concern you? There is really no need to tell me to get a grip.
I was merely curious and wanted to discuss it, on you know, a discussion board?!?

Edited by kiran1818, 02 February 2012 - 01:58 AM.

[hefeweizen]

I think there are lots of valid reasons why someone would want to know about the grading curves - for someone who isn't a law student yet, this stuff is all in the realm of the unknown, and if there was a big difference in the way the two schools dealt with grades that could be an element in a decision between them (especially because those two schools compete so directly for the same pool of jobs). I'd have asked if I hadn't been so settled on going to my current school for other reasons.