Remember when
earning an A was actually hard?
earning an A was actually hard?
Many high
schools, colleges and even some middle schools practice grade inflation. It’s a
pretty simple concept: make students look smarter than they actually are,
giving them a competitive edge. Adjusting the GPA scale is the easiest way to
do this.
schools, colleges and even some middle schools practice grade inflation. It’s a
pretty simple concept: make students look smarter than they actually are,
giving them a competitive edge. Adjusting the GPA scale is the easiest way to
do this.
The GPA scale was
designed to give a numerical value to a student’s cumulative grades. It ranged
from 0-4, with 0 being an F and 4 being an A (not an A-). But, some high
schools started weighting GPA to reflect a tougher curriculum, and eventually
started awarding students a 5.0 for an A in an Honors or Advanced Placement
class. Other schools started giving students a 4.3 for an A+.
designed to give a numerical value to a student’s cumulative grades. It ranged
from 0-4, with 0 being an F and 4 being an A (not an A-). But, some high
schools started weighting GPA to reflect a tougher curriculum, and eventually
started awarding students a 5.0 for an A in an Honors or Advanced Placement
class. Other schools started giving students a 4.3 for an A+.
So, two
academically identical students – who both earned the same grades in the same
classes – but at separate schools have dramatically different GPAs. One has a
3.5; the other has a 4.5. Naturally, colleges showed favoritism to students
with 4.5s, thinking they’re more intelligent and college-ready. But, that is
not always the case.
academically identical students – who both earned the same grades in the same
classes – but at separate schools have dramatically different GPAs. One has a
3.5; the other has a 4.5. Naturally, colleges showed favoritism to students
with 4.5s, thinking they’re more intelligent and college-ready. But, that is
not always the case.
It didn’t take
long for other high schools to catch on, and now most weight students’ grades,
allowing students to earn up to a 5.0 GPA. Eventually, this practice somewhat
leveled out. But, to tip the scales again, high schools started making their
classes easier and awarding more A’s and B’s instead of C’s and D’s. High schools are under a tremendous amount of
pressure to send students to elite colleges, and some are desperate to make their
students more competitive.
long for other high schools to catch on, and now most weight students’ grades,
allowing students to earn up to a 5.0 GPA. Eventually, this practice somewhat
leveled out. But, to tip the scales again, high schools started making their
classes easier and awarding more A’s and B’s instead of C’s and D’s. High schools are under a tremendous amount of
pressure to send students to elite colleges, and some are desperate to make their
students more competitive.
And this is where
it gets interesting. The average high school GPA has risen from a 2.7 in 1990
to a 3.0 in 2009, according to the US
News & World Report. Also, in recent years, nearly 50 percent of
college freshmen said they had an A average in high school, according to CBS News. When considering the bell
curve, only 20-30 percent of students should have A averages.
it gets interesting. The average high school GPA has risen from a 2.7 in 1990
to a 3.0 in 2009, according to the US
News & World Report. Also, in recent years, nearly 50 percent of
college freshmen said they had an A average in high school, according to CBS News. When considering the bell
curve, only 20-30 percent of students should have A averages.
This translates
into terrible study habits. In 2009, 33 percent of college freshmen said they
only studied/did homework for 6 hours a week, the lowest mark in history (since
the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los
Angeles started keeping these stats in 1987).
into terrible study habits. In 2009, 33 percent of college freshmen said they
only studied/did homework for 6 hours a week, the lowest mark in history (since
the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los
Angeles started keeping these stats in 1987).
But, grade
inflation does not stop after high school. The average college GPA has risen
from a 2.5 in 1960 to a 3.11, according Stuart Rojstaczer of gradeinflation.com. Interestingly
enough, in roughly this same time span, study/homework time for college
students declined from 24 hours a week to 14, according to the Washington Post.
inflation does not stop after high school. The average college GPA has risen
from a 2.5 in 1960 to a 3.11, according Stuart Rojstaczer of gradeinflation.com. Interestingly
enough, in roughly this same time span, study/homework time for college
students declined from 24 hours a week to 14, according to the Washington Post.
Essentially,
college students are studying less and earning higher grades. Why? Because
undergrad colleges are under a ton of pressure to place students in elite
graduate schools or high-paying jobs. These are the stats they use to recruit
students.
college students are studying less and earning higher grades. Why? Because
undergrad colleges are under a ton of pressure to place students in elite
graduate schools or high-paying jobs. These are the stats they use to recruit
students.
Grade inflation
has led to a consumer’s approach to education, and
schools that don’t practice it will not attract or advance as many students.
Every school knows this. Many are concerned that this is decreasing the overall
quality of education. Prepare your students with tutoring classes and don’t
allow them be part of this decline, you can easily find the best tutoring prices online.
has led to a consumer’s approach to education, and
schools that don’t practice it will not attract or advance as many students.
Every school knows this. Many are concerned that this is decreasing the overall
quality of education. Prepare your students with tutoring classes and don’t
allow them be part of this decline, you can easily find the best tutoring prices online.
This
guest post article was written and provided by Marissa Krause who is a stay at
home mother and homeschools her children with the help of VarsityTutors.com.
