Grading System In Education

School days were the most bubbly days of our lives except two days in the whole year- Result Day! Our progress reports comprised of two sections. One, the marks obtained per subject. Second, an assessment column. Introduction of grading system is a very good step to change the age old education system in our country and a debated topic. Grading system is the method of evaluation of a student's performance in various subjects or areas on various parameters in the school. However, grading system comes along with both advantages and disadvantages.

Why I feel grading system is better because the level of pressure of competition is to some extent reduced. For example, A student acquiring 80 in subject xyz and another student acquires 85 in the same subject. People find the second student "better", or "more brilliant". Presence of a grading system puts a range of marks into a particular grade (suppose, 80-90 assumed to be an A grade). Marks are still awarded on the basis of answers or facts mugged up to clear (or attain a position) in the examination. Consequently this takes a student away from the actual source of knowledge.

Many students face inferiority complex in case of getting less marks but grading system helps fighting against such complexes. Since the children are graded on fewer categories, marks are not revealed. The criteria of judging students purely on the basis of marks seems unfair. Even at a difference of half or one mark, the student might not be able to make it, which leads to severe depression. From the examiner's perspective, it considerably reduces inter and intra examiner's variability in marking.

Like every coin has the other side, grading system also has its disadvantages. This system is de-motivating to those students who achieve the best marks after lots of effort and hard-work. His/her efforts are not recognized and differentiated from others clearly. Studies showed that, in grading system, the students do not work as hard as they do for marking system. The objective of grading system should be to evaluate and not to experience success or failure as a punishment or differentiation, but as an information of how much effort more is required.

In today's education system, it's becoming difficult as to on what parameters should a student's progress be evaluated. Evaluation should not only be in academic fields but also in other curricular activities like sports, art and crafts etc. It is important to have a clear perspective and means of evaluating a student for his/her overall progress and development.