bell curve god

English

Alternative forms

• Bell-Curve God, Bellcurve God

Etymology

From bell curve +‎ god.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛl kɜːv ˌɡɒd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛl kɚv ˌɡɑd/

Noun

bell curve god (plural bell curve gods)

1. (Singapore, humorous) A notional deity having power over the bell curve grading system in which grades are adjusted to fit a normal distribution.
   • 2011 November 28, Alvin Lim, ““Bell Curve God” Surfaces In Local University”, in Alvinology‎^[1] (blog), archived from the original on 13 November 2011:

     “He who prays to the Bell Curve God, will be granted the luck to pass the exams!” Reads the Facebook Page description.

   • 2011 December 1, STUMPBO, “Who is this Bell Curve God?”, in Life of Lopsided 8‎^[2] (blog), archived from the original on 7 December 2013:

     Some students in a local university who are sitting for their final examinations have reportedly resorted to and set up shrines to pray to a so-called 'Bell Curve God' for help.

   • 2012 January 25, Ng Kang Rui, “Desperate undergrads pray to 'bell curve god'”, in Kangaroo’s Corner‎^[3] (blog), Singapore, archived from the original on 13 February 2022:

     It seems desperate undergraduates at a local university are willing to do whatever it takes to help them in their exams - including giving offerings to the "Bell Curve God."

   • 2013 April 12, Amanda, “加油! Adding Oil to the Ominous Bell Curve”, in 12 Time Zones Away‎^[4] (blog), archived from the original on 22 August 2026:

     Upon exploring the Singaporean bell curve on the internet, I came across this comical photo of food offerings of oreos, noodles, and other goodies given to the "Bell Curve God". The paper on the image to the right reads: CURSED is he who enters without a food offering to the Bell Curve God!

   • 2013 July 31, “Bell Curve God”, in Orbital: Project Gemini‎^[5], National University of Singapore, archived from the original on 11 November 2013:

     This website is a tribute to the famous but elusive Bell Curve God that everyone has heard of but has never seen.

   • 2014 March 17, Joshua Goh, “10 Things Every Singaporean Should Do Before Graduating University”, in TheSmartLocal‎^[6] (blog), archived from the original on 28 March 2014:

     Sign up for random events, meet new people, set up a bell curve God altar, skip classes, tell your professor you dislike the country he comes from (just kidding), sleep overnight in the library, party on Wednesdays when you have a Thursday morning class etc.

   • 2014 November 25, Hana Wong, SGAG‎^[7] (Facebook post), retrieved 1 November 2017:

     Haha! altar to the almighty bell curve god in NTU! - good luck to uni students for your exams!

   • 2015 May 16, Kintan Andanari, “5 "stunned like vegetable" reactions by young S'poreans as SIM forces exam retake”, in Mothership‎^[8], archived from the original on 18 May 2015:

     Even the Bell Curve God can’t grant your wish.

   • 2016 March 3, Jody-Lan Castle, “Top 10 exam rituals from stressed students across Asia”, in BBC News‎^[9], archived from the original on 2 March 2016:

     "As students, we are subject to the omnipotent, inscrutable force that is the Bell Curve God. He is the arbitrary being that decides our grades," Dylan Lee Soon Yoong explains.

   • 2016, Lily Kong, “Mimicking Religion as Coping Strategy: the Emergence of the Bell-Curve God in Singapore”, in Material Religion, volume 12, number 4, Taylor & Francis, →DOI, page 533:

     The Bell Curve God is characterised as capable of granting “blessings” to those who worship and pray to it. Students pray for its intervention to not have their grades classified in the lower end of the curve. They pray for “deliverance” and seek reward in the form of grades “sustenance”.

   • 2017 May 15, u/doctorwhybother98, “/r/Singapore's very own bell curve Prayer”, in r/singapore‎^[10] (Reddit post), archived from the original on 13 February 2022:

     Do you feel lost? Dejected? Are you worried about your upcoming tests and exams? Do you require the spiritual guidance of Our Lord the Bell Curve God, in His wisdom and beauty and ever-failing everlasting Grace? Then close your eyes and chant this prayer, and all your troubles will be answered by Our Lord the Bell Curve God and tanked washed away: […]

Usage notes

• Commonly collocated with GPA, examination, and pray. Mostly used by Singaporean students.