Weighted Averages

• review the Weighted Average Chart to determine which modular courses must be included in your course selection for Year 3 so that you can apply to Year 4 for a particular Honours Specialization module
• recognize which group of courses makes up 1/3 (33%) of the Weighted Average and which group of courses makes up 2/3 (67%) of the Weighted Average (see How to calculate your Weighted Average - below)
• check the Minimum Averages Required for Admission to Honours Specialization Modules to get a feeling as to the approximate average you'll need on your courses in Year 3 to be competitive for the Honours Specialization module(s) in which you're interested.

Calculate the following two averages:
X = average of the "Modular courses responsible for 1/3 of the Weighted Average"
Y = average of the "Modular courses responsible for 2/3 of the Weighted Average"

and solve for
Z = the Weighted Average

(0.33 * X) + (0.67 * Y) = Z

Note: If the group of courses used to calculate one of the averages contains both full-year and half courses, consider the full course as if it were two half courses and use the mark twice and divide the sum of marks by the total number of half course equivalents:

• e.g., the group consists of 2.5 courses - Physiology 3120 (full course), Physiology and Pharmacology 3000E (full course) and 3140A (half course):
  • add the marks as follows: Physiology 3120 + Physiology 3120 + Physiology and Pharmacology 3000E + Physiology and Pharmacology 3000E +Physiology 3140A = sum of marks
  • divide this sum by 5 (the total number of half course equivalents)
  • the result is the average on these 2.5 courses

To figure out the approximate average you will need on the "Modular courses responsible for 2/3 of the Weighted Average" (most are taken in Year 3) to be competitive for Year 4 of a particular Honours Specialization module, follow these steps:

1. Find the Minimum Weighted Averages that have been required for the past few years for admission to Year 4 of the Honours Specialization module in which you're interested and determine the minimum Weighted Average that you wish/need to achieve to be competitive for admission to this module (realizing that the minimum Weighted Average required for admission can go up or down in any given year).

2. Calculate the value for X below, plug in Z as the minimum Weighted Average that you want to achieve, and solve for Y to find out the average you will need on the modular courses you take in Year 3.

(0.33 * X) + (0.67 * Y) = Z

X = the average of the "Modular courses responsible for 1/3 of the Weighted Average"
Y = the average of the "Modular courses responsible for 2/3 of the Weighted Average"
Z = the Weighted Average

Example:
You want to achieve a minimum Weighted Average of 89% (Z) to be competitive for admission to the Honours Specialization in Physiology. You achieved an average of 82% on the six half "Modular courses responsible for 1/3 of the Weighted Average (X).

(0.33 * 82) + (0.67 * Y) = 89

27.06 + (0.67 * Y) = 89

(0.67 * Y) = 61.94

92.45 = Y

You need to achieve an average of 92.45% on (Physiology 3120, 3140A and Phys Pharm 3000E) to achieve a Weighted Average of 89% when applying to Year 4 of an Honours Specialization in Physiology.