Duke University
Economics 204 course grade distributions
Taught by Duncan Thomas, Fall 2020 through Fall 2024
Letter 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
A+ 4% 4% 8% 2% 2%
A 12% 38% 46% 23% 25%
A- 15% 15% 12% 22% 26%
A+, A or A- 31% 57% 66% 47% 53%
B+ 12% 22% 17% 17% 22%
B 14% 13% 19% 27% 14%
B- 23% 3% 2% 4% 5%
B+, B or B- 49% 38% 30% 48% 41%
C 12% 0% 0% 2% 3%
D 8% 0% 0% 0% 3%
F 0% 3% 3% 1% 0%
W 1% 3% 2% 1% 0%
C, D, F or W 21% 6% 5% 4% 6%
# students 102 72 59 83 100
W indicates student withdrew from class.

Note: The structure of the class, grading and grading standards did not change in 2024. The difference in the distribution
of grades in 2024 reflects how well students in 2024 mastered the course material relative to students in other years.

Summary of numeric responses in Econ 204 course evaluations since 2021

(when Duke University introduced current system)
Question 2024 2023 2022 2021
Q8. Overall the instructor was
     (1.Poor...5.Excellent)
4.33 4.45 4.40 4.56
Q7. Overall the course was
     (1.Poor...5.Excellent)
3.99 4.18 4.16 4.31
Q12. Course was difficult
     (1.Strongly disagree...5.Strongly agree)
4.61 4.50 4.58 4.68
Q13. Hours on class in typical week
    (1-9, 10+ hrs)
7.56 7.05 7.84 7.97
Q5. Course was intellectually stimulating
     (1.Poor...5.Excellent)
4.34 4.52 4.42 4.81
Q1. My engagement with course was
     (1.Very low...5.Very high)
4.00 4.09 4.10 4.13
As described in the class syllabus and explained, in detail, on the first day of class in each year,
grades are determined by the weighted sum of four measures of mastery of the material covered in the class.
(The weights are specified in [brackets].)
       (1) Percentage grade in the final exam [40%]
       (2) Percentage grade in the midterm exam [15%]
             (If final grade>midterm grade, final replaces midterm grade)
       (3) Percentage grade for problem sets. (Each problem set gets equal weight in determing the overall percentage.) [30%]
       (4) Percentage grade for in-class quizzes. (Each quiz gets equal weight in determining the overall percentage.) [15%]



Evaluations and grade distributions home page
Course evaluation numeric responses from 2024 relative to Econ and all undergrad course

Course evaluation open ended responses from 2024
Detailed course evaluation numeric responses from 2024