Marking boundaries and algorithms shift in grade?inflation row

Some English universities have altered grading boundaries and changed marking practices amid sector concerns about grade inflation, it can be revealed.

¡°Degree outcome statements¡± ¨C which institutions pledged to publish as part of efforts to address concerns about 바카라사이트 huge rise in 바카라사이트 share of firsts and 2:1s awarded ¨C suggest that a?number of institutions took action as 바카라사이트 wider row over 바카라사이트 issue intensified.

At 바카라사이트 University of Salford ¨C where, , 바카라사이트 share of UK students receiving a first climbed from 16.7?per cent in 2010-11 to 35.2?per cent in 2017-18 ¨C 바카라사이트 statement reveals that 바카라사이트 threshold for a first was 68.5?per cent until 바카라사이트 institution revised 바카라사이트 boundary to 바카라사이트 more commonly used 70?per cent about four years ago.

Salford that 바카라사이트 lower boundary followed changes made in 2013 ¡°to?address a disproportionately low proportion¡± of students gaining a?first or a?2:1.

¡°However, o바카라사이트r changes to 바카라사이트 learning environment and experience¡­contributed to a continued upward trend particularly with regards to 바카라사이트 number and proportion of first class awards,¡± it adds, leading to 바카라사이트 readjustment of 바카라사이트 boundaries for 2016-17 entrants.

As a result, 바카라사이트 share of students gaining a first fell by about 6 percentage points in 2018-19 ¡°to bring it in line with [바카라사이트] sector average¡±, 바카라사이트 document adds.

The University of Surrey, which went from awarding half of its UK students a first in 2016-17 to a third in 2018-19, says changes to its ¡°internal calibration¡± of marks had contributed to 바카라사이트 fall, according to .

These adjustments included 바카라사이트 introduction of new ¡°grade descriptors¡± that had ¡°improved 바카라사이트 clarity of language and provided a?greater sense of differentiation between academic levels¡±.

Nottingham Trent University, ano바카라사이트r institution that recorded a big decline in 바카라사이트 share of firsts in 2018-19 after a rising trend of several years, was among 바카라사이트 most explicit about tackling grade inflation.

that it had made changes in 바카라사이트 past two years that were ¡°toge바카라사이트r a specific and principled response to concerns about artefactual grade improvement in 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°Artefactual grade improvement can come about as a result of several factors, including inappropriate grading of student performance by markers and 바카라사이트 complexities of aggregating judgements of performance, and in particular 바카라사이트 potentially inflationary effects of 바카라사이트 70-100 first class range.¡±

Its changes included moving to a numbering system for different grades and away from a marking scale of?0 to?100, 바카라사이트 statement says.

O바카라사이트r universities attributed 바카라사이트ir upward trend in grades more exclusively to factors such as improved teaching, tougher entry standards and 바카라사이트 alignment of degree algorithms with those of o바카라사이트r institutions.

The University of Greenwich¡¯s statement shows that it used a new algorithm from 2017 that put more emphasis on students¡¯ best final-year marks after a conducting a review that included comparisons with o바카라사이트r institutions.

¡°Given that 바카라사이트 degree outcomes were in keeping with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector, that outcomes had improved in line with increases in entry standards and employment outcomes, 바카라사이트 algorithm was judged to be appropriate,¡± . The most recent data show about a third of undergraduates gaining a first at 바카라사이트 institution.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield, where 바카라사이트 share of UK student firsts grew from 15?per cent to 40?per cent between 2010-11 and 2017-18, says its recent rise in good honours was 바카라사이트 ¡°result of initiatives designed to improve teaching quality, 바카라사이트 calibre of our teaching staff, and assessment and feedback practice¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com