First, let's define some terms:

• Your X-score is your course total score obtained by setting
  • your final exam score to the weighted average of your exams 1-4, and
  • your project 8 score to the weighted average of projects 1-7.
• Your Y-score is your X-score with the project 8 share replaced by your actual project 8 score (after its grading is completed).
• Your Z-score is your Y-score with the final exam share replaced by your actual final exam score. (after all grading is completed).
• On Thu May 9, I will announce tentative cutoffs for course grades A, B, C, D, F. Call them X-cutoffs.
• Let Z-cutoffs refer to the ultimate grade cutoffs I will use. The Z-cutoffs will be no higher than the X-cutoffs. (Eg, Z-cutoff's B ≤ X-cutoff's B)

You have two options:

1. Skip the final: Your course grade is determined by your Y-score and the Z-cutoffs. (It is no worse than that from your Y-score and X-cutoffs.)
2. Do the final: Your course grade is determined by your Z-score and Z-cutoffs. (It can be better or worse than that from your Y-score and X-cutoffs.)