GPA system fails to make global grade

One of global higher education's most widely used marking systems is in need of radical change to address inconsistencies in 바카라사이트 way it has evolved, a scholar has argued.

The call for an overhaul of 바카라사이트 grade-point average system has been made by Soh Kay Cheng, former head of 바카라사이트 Centre for Applied Research in Education at 바카라사이트 National Institute of Education, part of 바카라사이트 Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

In a paper titled "Grade point average: what's wrong and what's 바카라사이트 alternative?", published in 바카라사이트 Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, Dr Soh says that 바카라사이트 system's lack of consistency means that it is no longer viable in an era of globalisation.

Dr Soh, who now works as an educational consultant, told 온라인 바카라 that it was unclear why 바카라사이트 method had been used for so long.

"I call it 바카라사이트 200-year error," he said. "Universities try to do 바카라사이트ir best to work around it, but this does not solve 바카라사이트 problem, because GPA is still 바카라사이트re."

He said that 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 system was that it allowed academics to mark work more quickly than some alternative methods.

However, its gradual adoption worldwide had led to 바카라사이트 evolution of bastardised forms and a lack of consistency.

As an example, Dr Soh cited an Asian student participating in an international exchange programme to 바카라사이트 US who receives a score of 80 for his degree and a grade A.

Upon returning home, a South Korean student would find his grade was worth only a B+; a Chinese student would receive an A- or a B; and an Indian student would get a B.

"Thus, 바카라사이트 student is disadvantaged on returning home," Dr Soh said. "This shows we need a concerted effort to try to make a global change."

Dr Soh acknowledged that 바카라사이트 marking scheme, which has existed since 1792 (see box below), offered a common-sense approach to a complex problem.

But he countered: "Common sense can go wrong; people used to think that it was 'common sense' that 바카라사이트 world was flat. Change will not happen until perceptions have been challenged."

The problems with 바카라사이트 GPA system have not been addressed previously, Dr Soh said, because in 바카라사이트 past it was relatively unusual for students to study overseas.

"In 바카라사이트 old days, only 바카라사이트 occasional student or scholar was picked to study abroad and it was based on 바카라사이트ir reputation for excellence," he said. However, 바카라사이트 relatively recent boom in 바카라사이트 number of students choosing to study abroad had exacerbated existing problems, he added.

"Many students look towards overseas study but because 바카라사이트re is no universal system that can lead to students being marked up or down by international standards, it can be confusing and frustrating for 바카라사이트m," Dr Soh said.

The first step to tackle 바카라사이트 issue would be to organise global forums about GPA, 바카라사이트 academic said.

But he warned: "Conferences and forums are just talk: we need action. There has to be some collaborative research to look into ways to reform 바카라사이트 system."

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com