Meanings
verbgrade on a curve (third-person singular simple present grades on a curve, present participle grading on a curve, simple past and past participle graded on a curve)
present singular third person grades on a curve · participle present grading on a curve · participle past graded on a curve · past graded on a curve
- To use a grading system based on the scale of performance of a group to normalize a right-skewed grade distribution (with more lower scores) into a bell curve, so that more can receive higher grades, regardless of their actual knowledge of the subject; to curve a grade.
He asked the teacher to grade (the test) on a curve.
- broadlyTo compare the members of a set or group by using a relative scale, based on performance relative to other members.
Origin
Referring to the bell curve of a normal distribution.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Cantonese 拉curve
- 拉curve (laai¹ koe¹ fu⁴)use a grading system
Chinese Mandarin 曲線評分 /曲线评分, 相對評比 /相对评比
- 曲線評分 /曲线评分 (qūxiàn píngfēn)use a grading system
- 相對評比 /相对评比 (xiāngduì píngbǐ)compare the members of a set or group by using a relative scale
Finnish normittaa, vertailla
- normittaause a grading system
- vertaillacompare the members of a set or group by using a relative scale
- luokitellacompare the members of a set or group by using a relative scale
Cite this entry
APA
grade on a curve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grade%20on%20a%20curve
MLA
“grade on a curve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grade%20on%20a%20curve. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grade on a curve,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grade%20on%20a%20curve.
Source: grade on a curve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.