Comparison/Contrast Essay

In both high school and college one receives grades for the work that is accomplished. In high school one may receive numerous grades during the grading period which may be given for tests, quizzes, and even homework. Tests in high school are usually scheduled as the class progresses and comes to a point where a subject is understood. The scale that teachers use to grade assignments in high school is an absolute scale, where how well you perform in the class determines the grade you receive.

Although one also receives grades in college, fewer grades are given than in high school. Homework grades are not given in college as they are in high school but rather very few test grades. Tests are typically scheduled by the professor ahead of time and announced on the first day of class when the syllabus is handed out. Students are expected to know the subject matter when test day arrives. Some professors do not grade on an absolute scale but rather on a sliding or relative scale such as the bell curve.

Studying is essential to success in both high school and college, however, high school classes may require only a few hours a week of out-of-class study time. Homework assignments are typically short and discussed in depth the following day of class. Material taught in high school usually needs to be heard only once to be comprehended and can be glanced over once more before test time. Teachers in high school emphasize what needs to be known for test time from reading passages and other homework.

Unlike in high school, classes in college require much outside study time. Many classes require just as many or possibly more hours of study time as one is required to actually be in the class. Homework in college is typically lengthy reading passages that the professor expects one to read and understand before the next time the class meets. Many times the subject matter in the reading is not discussed during class, but is still expected to be known for tests. One must continually study subject matter so as to completely comprehend it before test time.