I start with a detailed but "partial" analysis of a case regarding grade inflation. The case is inspired by the discussion in Crumbley et al. (2010) and its elaboration in Roberts (2016). I supplement the case description by introducing certain facts that are not in the original discussion. The subsequent analysis is based on this…

Higher education systems exhibit varying degrees of heterogeneity in approaches to undergraduate degree classification -- specifically for this Point of Departure: the wide variety of 'Degree Classification Algorithms' (DCAs) used to calculate students' final awards. To date, the impact of DCA variation remains an under-researched 'black box', and…

Grade inflation has been shown in this and other academic journals to be an unethical academic practice. Where the moral responsibility lies is, however, not entirely clear. Various studies directly or impliedly point to the grader (university lecturer, tenured or casual), said to inflate grades mainly in return for positive student evaluations.…

The observed decline in academic performance among 15-year-old students, as reported by recent OECD-PISA surveys, alongside the democratisation of university admissions, points to a potential decrease in the marginal academic proficiency of incoming higher education students. Paradoxically, grades at the tertiary level have either remained stable…

The institutional form and conception of Higher Education have changed through the growth of mass higher education, which in many national systems now operates on market logics. Drawing on theories of credentialism, this article provides a critical analysis of the inter-relationship between massification and marketization and examines a range of…

In undergraduate university courses, the assessment methods often lack variety, which can lead to significant stress for both students and educators. It is becoming increasingly apparent that incorporating a range of assessment types could alleviate this stress and better accommodate diverse learning styles (Leite et al., 2010). Elective Grading…

Grading inflation is a major problem in academia. The paper's purpose is to assess graduate students' perception of grade inflation. Students' results (n = 120) are examined by gender and grade point average. According to students, grade inflation is not a problem and grades accurately reflect performance. Respondents believe that some students…

American colleges and universities are being scrutinized as never before. From rising tuition costs and allegations of plagiarism at the highest levels to concerns about low rates of completion and the state of free inquiry on campus, four-year colleges in the U.S. are under the microscope. Yet one crucial issue that is too rarely accorded the…

Previous research has suggested that changing the percentage of the course grade associated with exam grades in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses can change the gender gap in the course. It has also been shown that high-stakes assessments yield the lowest (relative) scores for female students. Previous research by the…

In today's schools, students can be given high grades in examinations and class performance. High grades can lead to the problem of inflated grades. Inflated grades can lead to grade inflation. The subject of this study is to investigate the existence of high grades in primary school, secondary school and high school. The main purpose of the…

There is widespread speculation (e.g., Johnson, 2021; Klinger et al., 2022; Mathews, 2022; Walker, 2021) and some evidence (e.g., Sanchez & Moore, 2022, Sanchez, 2023) that grading standards have changed over the course of the pandemic, making higher grades relatively easier to achieve and less reflective of objective measures of learning. It…

Student evaluation of teaching (SET) is important for assessing university instructors' performance. However, this system seems biased as students' grade expectations result in rewards or penalties in SET. As a fair evaluation of grades became difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, universities implemented a relaxed grade policy that expanded the…

A critically important balance in educational measurement between practical concerns and matters of technique has atrophied in recent decades, and as a result, some important issues in the field have not been adequately addressed. I start with the work of E. F. Lindquist, who exemplified the balance that is now wanting. Lindquist was arguably the…

There is widespread speculation and some evidence that grades and grading standards changed during the pandemic, making higher grades relatively easier to achieve. In this paper we use longitudinal data from students in Washington State to investigate middle and high school grades in math, science, and English pre- and post-pandemic. Our…

This paper explores the perspectives of principals, teachers and key actors within the Irish primary school context regarding standardised assessment following a cultural flashpoint in the Irish education system, marked by the embedding of governmental policy regarding literacy and numeracy. A survey methodology was employed which incorporated the…