Explanation of the PFM and RTP marks

The marks in the PFM box represent the possible final mark (for the course) if you do not write Test 5. If you have a mark of 60 or more there, then you will have no mark in the RTP box. As long as you keep your class participation good over the final few weeks, you are guaranteed a pass in the course. (Of course, you can try to improve your mark with a good performance on Test 5, if you want to raise your final grade.)

If you have a PFM mark of less than 60, then the RTP box gives the minimum mark you need to obtain on Test 5 in order to pass the course. Take this seriously, really prepare for that test, and you might pull it off - but notice that this may mean doing better on this test than on the ones you've written so far. Don't count on a "class participation mark" to pull you up - I've already taken that into consideration in the calculations.

A few students have already failed the course - in those cases, the RTP box is empty, with a comment added saying "F".

There will be NO "rewrites" after the final test day.

The new (optional) grade policy

In case you missed it in class, here's how the final test and marks calculations will go:

Test 5 will go up on the webpage almost a week before the test; you may prepare your answers as best you can, with help from me, from friends, or from any other reliable source. You may prepare the usual 5"x3" card of notes to bring with you to the test. You will write the actual test in class on Friday 5 December (no exceptions). (If you have to write the test on a day later than 5 Dec, for any reason, including medical reasons, then the version of the test on the webpage will be a practice test for you, as we've had for other tests, and the actual test you write will be different from that one.)
Students who write all 5 tests may, as an extra option, over and above the provisions in the course outline, drop their worst test and take a straight average of the other 4 tests (no class participation included in this calculation).
Those students whose class participation (including the final three weeks) is good may also use this extra optional marks calculation scheme (which means they may opt to not write Test 5 if they prefer). (Remember, if you want to see what skipping Test 5 will do to your final mark, I have given your potential final grade on Omnivox, in the PFM box.)
In any case, a student's final grade will be the best of the two calculations.