grades on a curve

A form of grade 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.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of grade on a curve
Cite this entry
APA

grades on a curve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grades%20on%20a%20curve

MLA

“grades on a curve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grades%20on%20a%20curve. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grades on a curve,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grades%20on%20a%20curve.

Source: grades on a curve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.