Should I question this grading scale

Question

I am in my second semester in a Post-Bachelors Doctorate of Nursing Practice program. The class is a graduate nursing informatics course. My instructor posted the following grading scale. My initial reaction is that it leaves little room to earn an A grade. Would it be appropriate or acceptable to raise the issue with the professor? My past experience has usually been that an A is mid 90s or above and that an A- has been low 90s.

A: 97% or above A-: 93-96% B+: 90-92% B: 87-89% B-: 83-86% Anything else is considered failing.

Answer 1

No, unless your institution has a specific policy on grade cutoffs.

Grade cutoffs are arbitrary. You cannot compare a % grade in one class to another, because the assessments are going to be different.

Answer 2

You can question it, of course, but it may not actually be as bad as it looks. You don't know, for example, how the individual assignments will be evaluated and fit (or not) into this scheme. But high standards may be needed in your field. Actually, I hope they are.

But such things are fair game for discussion with the professor as long as you go into it with a non-confrontational attitude. Doing it in person is much more likely to result in a proper understanding/outcome.