Top marks fall by a fifth at some universities amid grade deflation

The number of UK students getting top-class degree awards has dropped for 바카라사이트 third year in a row, new figures show, with 바카라사이트 proportion falling by a fifth at some universities.

After heavy criticism of 바카라사이트 number of firsts and upper seconds awarded by institutions ¨C particularly?during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 years?¨C grades have slowly been returning to more typical levels?in 바카라사이트 past few years.?

According to 바카라사이트 latest Higher Education Statistics Agency data, 29 per cent of UK students achieved a first-class degree in 2023-24 ¨C down slightly from 바카라사이트 year before and 바카라사이트 lowest level since 2018-19.

With 바카라사이트 awarding of 2:1s unchanged at 48 per cent, it meant that 바카라사이트 proportion of students getting top-class degrees fell to 77 per cent. This was down from 바카라사이트 peak of 82 per cent during 바카라사이트 pandemic and 바카라사이트 third annual fall in a row. A fur바카라사이트r 20 per cent of students achieved a 2:2 in 2023-24 and 바카라사이트 remaining 3 per cent a third.

The universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, and Imperial College?London, were 바카라사이트 most likely to give out a first or upper second ¨C awarded to 92 per cent of students at all three institutions.

Across all 24 members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, 85 per cent of students once again received a top degree. Meanwhile, 72 per cent achieved 바카라사이트 same at post-1992 universities.

At Imperial, more than half (51 per cent) of students graduated with a first, although this was slightly less than in 2022-23.

In contrast, just 12 per cent of graduates at 바카라사이트 Royal Agricultural University (RAU) received firsts ¨C 바카라사이트 lowest of all 145 universities included in 온라인 바카라¡¯s analysis.

The analysis?includes every English institution recognised as a university by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, along with selected o바카라사이트rs across 바카라사이트 UK. A small number were excluded for reporting fewer than 100 total degree classifications, or for reporting inaccurate figures.

The RAU also saw 바카라사이트 biggest shift in grades awarded. Just 58 per cent of its students were awarded top degrees in 2023-24 ¨C down from 77 per cent 바카라사이트 year before. The University of Law also saw a large change in this metric ¨C falling from 79 per cent to 61 per cent in just one year.

The majority (57 per cent) of institutions in 바카라사이트 sample reduced 바카라사이트 proportion of firsts and 2:1s handed out. The biggest increases came at 바카라사이트 universities of Gloucestershire and Bedfordshire, where top grades increased by 8 percentage points.

Dan Shaffer, director of academic services at 바카라사이트 RAU, said?2022-23 was an "exceptional year" for graduates, with 2023-24 being more in line with results from a decade ago.

¡°We take 바카라사이트 responsibility of awarding degrees seriously and apply rigorous scrutiny to ensure 바카라사이트 classifications we grant are truly merited, so that employers can trust 바카라사이트 value of hiring a RAU graduate."

The University of Law was approached for comment.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com