This report examines grading practices, the uses of grades and the influence of grades on the student, faculty, administration and society. The author also indicates how grading practices can be and are being altered to provide an educational tool that accurately reflects the many dimensions of student performance. It is noted that grades seem…

What began as a review of Pass-Fail ended as a comment on the evaluation schema of student academic performance. "Standards,""Evaluation" and "Grades" are defined. A brief history of grading among early North American institutions of higher learning is compared to precursory practices in Europe. The validity and reliability of traditional grades…

The author reviews various current approaches to evaluating pupil achievement, evaluating instruction, and using grades, grade point averages, and class rank. Such issues as the philosophical and psychological bases for selection and use of evaluation instruments, the use of performance objectives, ways to reduce subjectivity in grading, the use…