Weighting of Assignments, Attendance, and Exams in University of Waterloo Engineering Programs

At the University of Waterloo, the assessment breakdown for the engineering program can vary significantly by course and instructor. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how assignments, attendance, and exams are weighted in the engineering program.

General Overview

Assignments and projects typically account for 30 to 50 percent of the overall grade, while exams and tests often make up 50 to 70 percent of the final grade. Attendance is generally not directly graded but can impact participation marks or be factored into group work assessments. It is crucial to check the specific course syllabus for exact weightings, as they can differ significantly between courses and instructors.

Assignments and Projects

Assignments and projects are an important component of the engineering program. They can range from individual tasks to group efforts, with typical assignments accounting for 30 to 50 percent of the grade. In first-year courses, students usually receive one assignment weekly or biweekly, each worth 1 to 5 percent of the overall grade. These assignments may include everything from lab work and programming exercises to more complex projects and design tasks.

Exams and Tests

Exams and tests are typically the heaviest portion of the grade, with midterms and finals commonly comprising 50 to 70 percent of the final score. Midterms are generally worth 20 to 30 percent, and finals may range from 30 to 80 percent, depending on the course and any missed exams. Some courses might have a combination of exams and quizzes, such as in Engineering Physics or Mathematics courses.

Attendance and Participation

Attendance is usually not directly graded, but it can impact participation marks or group work assessments. Professors may award points for participation, which can range from 5 to 10 percent of the grade. Participation marks are typically based on how engaged students are in class, with attendance being a key factor. Professors may recognize students who are present and actively participating, awarding full participation marks if they are well-known for their hard work and engagement.

First-Year Course Examples

Here are a couple of first-year courses at the University of Waterloo with their detailed breakdowns:

1B Management Engineering

MSCI 131 Work Design: 20 labs (25%), project (25%), midterm (30%), final (30%) MSCI 121 Programming: 30 assignments/tutorials (50%), midterm (20%), final (30%) MSCI 261 Economics: 12 assignments (10%), midterm (40%), final (50%) MATH 118 Calculus 2: 10 assignments (10%), midterm (35%), final (55%) PHYS 125 Physics: 10 assignments (10%), quizzes (9%), midterm (30%), final (50%) GENE 123 Circuits: 5 tutorials (5%), 15 labs (15%), midterm (20%), final (50%)

Upper-Year Course Examples

As students move into upper-year courses, assignments become less frequent, and projects take over a significant portion of the grade. Here are a few upper-year courses with their breakdowns:

3A Management Engineering

MSCI 444 Info Systems: 15 assignments (2%), project stages (50%), midterms (20%), participation (10%) MSCI 555 Scheduling: 10 assignments (2%), tests (20%), in-class game (10%), project (50%), final (10%) MSCI 311 Org Design: 10 tutorials (4%), project (20%), midterm (40%), final (36%) MSCI 334 Operations: 20 labs (4%), tests (4%), project (25%), final (35%) MSCI 431 Stochastic Models: 20 quizzes (20%), project (25%), midterm (35%), final (20%), bonus (5%)

Conclusion

The weighting of assignments, attendance, and exams in the engineering program at the University of Waterloo can significantly influence a student's final grade. It is essential to keep track of these breakdowns and maintain good attendance, participation, and consistent performance in assignments and exams to ensure success in the program.

Keyword(s): University of Waterloo engineering program, assignment and exam weighting, attendance and participation