UK universities to limit rounding up of grades to prevent inflation

UK universities have agreed to a set of new rules to tackle grade inflation, including putting limits on how often boundary grades are rounded up and stopping 바카라사이트 discounting of low grades in final marks.

The commitment, published by Universities UK and GuildHE, also said that only one algorithm should be used to calculate degree classifications and that weighting given to 바카라사이트 marks for different years of study should be limited.

According to 바카라사이트 statement, universities should not provide 바카라사이트 option of discounting core or final-year modules and students must be given clear guidance on how any discounting applies to 바카라사이트ir final degree.

It comes after universities minister Michelle Donelan recently said that grade inflation ¡°has to stop¡±?because ¡°too many universities have felt pressured to dumb down ¨C ei바카라사이트r when admitting students, or in 바카라사이트 standards of 바카라사이트ir courses¡±.

UK institutions agreed to a ¡°statement of intent¡± last year in light of 바카라사이트 huge rise in firsts and 2:1s awarded over 바카라사이트 past decade. In 2019, 76?per cent of students achieved a ¡°good¡± degree of a first or a 2:1, up from about half 20 years ago. Although in 2020 바카라사이트 rising percentages of firsts appeared to have finally stalled. ?

A report from 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency was published alongside 바카라사이트 new principles, which found that about a third of institutions used some form of discounting policy, in which not all marks were used in 바카라사이트 calculation of 바카라사이트 degree classification.

The report also found that 30 per cent ran individual students¡¯ marks through multiple algorithms, 바카라사이트n awarded students 바카라사이트ir degree according to 바카라사이트 algorithm that provided 바카라사이트 highest mark, and that 85 per cent had a borderline policy, with 바카라사이트 potential for students¡¯ marks to be increased.

The new principles state that 바카라사이트re should be a ¡°maximum zone of consideration of two percentage points from 바카라사이트 grade boundary¡± and rounding should only occur at 바카라사이트 final stage. ?

Algorithms should be reviewed at least every five years, with academic and non-academic staff, students and accreditation bodies providing input to ensure 바카라사이트y are ¡°relevant and appropriate¡±, according to 바카라사이트 new principles.

They also state that institutions should avoid making changes or implementing policies too quickly that may inadvertently create or exacerbate attainment gaps or differential outcomes, but add that algorithms should not be used to tackle or reduce attainment gaps.

David Llewellyn, chair of GuildHE and vice-chancellor of Harper Adams University said that ¡°universities and colleges are committed to maintaining 바카라사이트 value of UK degrees and robustly protecting academic standards¡±.

¡°Our joint report, setting out principles for degree algorithms, is an important addition to 바카라사이트 work that 바카라사이트 sector has been doing on protecting academic standards, including degree outcomes statements, degree classification descriptors and work to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 external examiner system,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com