Transmutation Tables: A Tool for Equitable Grading

Transmutation tables are a tool used by teachers to adjust student grades so that they all meet the minimum passing standard of 75%. This is done because the actual grades of students can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the difficulty of the course, the teacher's grading style, and the student's individual learning strengths and weaknesses.

To use a transmutation table, teachers first need to identify the lowest actual grade that will be considered passing. In the Philippines, this is typically 60%. They then use the transmutation table to calculate the corresponding transmuted grade, which is the grade that will be used for grading purposes.

For example, if a student gets an actual grade of 60%, the transmuted grade would be 75.4%. This means that the student would still be considered passing, even though they did not get a 75% on the actual exam.

Transmutation tables can be a helpful tool for ensuring that all students have an equal chance of passing a course. They can also help to reduce grade inflation, which is the practice of giving students higher grades than they deserve.

How to Use a Transmutation Table

To use a transmutation table, you will need to know the following information:

• The lowest actual grade that will be considered passing
• The transmuted grade for each actual grade

Once you have this information, you can use the following formula to calculate the transmuted grade for a student's actual grade:

Transmuted grade = (Actual grade / 100) x (100 - Base limit) + Base limit

 Where:

• Actual grade is the student's actual grade
• Base limit is the lowest actual grade that will be considered passing

For example, if the base limit is 60% and the student's actual grade is 70%, the transmuted grade would be calculated as follows:

Transmuted grade = (70 / 100) x (100 - 60) + 60 = 85%

How to Create Your Own Transmutation Table

If you do not have a transmutation table for the course you are teaching, you can create your own using the following steps:

• Identify the lowest actual grade that will be considered passing.
• Calculate the transmuted grade for each actual grade using the formula above.
• Create a table that lists the actual grades and their corresponding transmuted grades.

As an example, if a student got an actual grade of 60%, it will be adjusted to or transmuted to 75.4% or 75%. All other actual grades will also reflect adjustments as shown in the table.

Actual Grade	Transmuted Grade		Actual Grade	Transmuted Grade
100	100.0		50	69.3
99	99.4		49	68.6
98	98.8		48	68.0
97	98.2		47	67.4
96	97.5		46	66.8
95	96.9		45	66.2
94	96.3		44	65.6
93	95.7		43	64.9
92	95.1		42	64.3
91	94.5		41	63.7
90	93.9		40	63.1
89	93.2		39	62.5
88	92.6		38	61.9
87	92.0		37	61.3
86	91.4		36	60.6
85	90.8		35	60.0
84	90.2		34	59.4
83	89.5		33	58.8
82	88.9		32	58.2
81	88.3		31	57.6
80	87.7		30	57.0
79	87.1		29	56.3
78	86.5		28	55.7
77	85.9		27	55.1
76	85.2		26	54.5
75	84.6		25	53.9
74	84.0		24	53.3
73	83.4		23	52.6
72	82.8		22	52.0
71	82.2		21	51.4
70	81.6		20	50.8
69	80.9		19	50.2
68	80.3		18	49.6
67	79.7		17	49.0
66	79.1		16	48.3
65	78.5		15	47.7
64	77.9		14	47.1
63	77.2		13	46.5
62	76.6		12	45.9
61	76.0		11	45.3
60	75.4		10	44.7
59	74.8		9	44.0
58	74.2		8	43.4
57	73.6		7	42.8
56	72.9		6	42.2
55	72.3		5	41.6
54	71.7		4	41.0
53	71.1		3	40.3
52	70.5		2	39.7
51	69.9		1	39.1

Tips for Using Transmutation Tables

• Transmutation tables should only be used as a tool to ensure that all students have an equal chance of passing a course. They should not be used to inflate grades.
• When using a transmutation table, it is important to be aware of the limitations of the tool. Transmutation tables cannot perfectly account for all of the factors that can affect student grades.
• If you are using a transmutation table for the first time, it is a good idea to pilot it with a small group of students to see how it works in practice.

I hope this helps!