What is a bell curve?

Question

Im going to be in college next year and some people are telling me avoid teachers that use a bell curve because it is impossible to get an A in the class. Is it? Also is there a difference between a grading on a curve and grading on a bell curve? Also can you explain how they work? Thanks.

Answer 1

what the person above me said.

It sucks.

It's completely unfair.

Answer 2

Bell Curve - based on the idea that the majority of people are average:  10% of the students get A's, 20% B's, 50% C's, 20% D's and 10% F's.  What's bad is that some of those C's might otherwise be B's, F's might otherwise have been D's or even C's.

A Curved Grade just means that everyone gets x number of points to raise the class average.  For example, the best grade is an 85% so the teacher gives everyone 5% so the top score is a 90%.  It's more equitable because everyone gets the same help.