Graduate students are free to negotiate a grade scheme for the class with the professor.
The two exams will be in-class unless a majority of the class votes otherwise. Students who are happy with the grade they have earned without the final exam are expected not to take the final. Project grades are determined according to standard scientific assessment. A rough grading sheet is provided to guide students. Also, successful projects from many years of 427K can be looked at in 9.160 as explicit guidance for the minor project.