DoubleTakeDoubleTake
Research Alert
Grade Inflation Is on the Rise
A recent report from the College Board investigates two key
Regarding grade nonequivalence, analysis of the data
issues: grade inflation, in which teachers over time assign
showed different grading practices among schools in all
increasingly higher grades for a given level of achievement;
five subject areas, with some schools offering higher grades
and grade nonequivalence across schools, in which teachers
in different schools apply different grading standards for the
for lower levels of proficiency than other schools did. For
instance, in the AP biology course, students at one school, on
same curricular material. Two studies were involved.
average, received a B+ or better as a course grade, but they
To explore grade inflation, the first study looked at
tended to earn the equivalent of a D on the AP test. t
1. 2 million students. To explore
differential grading standards,
such practices as grade inflation
of a student’s achievement in F D B A
SAT scores and cumulative
The author concludes that
high school grade point
averages (GPAs) across
and grade nonequivalence make
11 years of diploma-receiving
it difficult for college admissions
cohorts, involving about
officers to make a valid assessment
comparison with other applicants.
a second study compared advanced placement (AP) course
These practices suggest other issues as well. The author
grades in biology, calculus AB, English literature, English
notes, “Teachers are forced to choose between adhering to
language, and U.S. history with student AP exam scores in the grading guidelines they may deem inappropriate and using
corresponding content area.
grades as motivators to reward good efforts rather than
achievement. Evidence suggests that many teachers choose
The Findings
the latter” (p. 15).
Regarding grade inflation, the study found that the average
Investigating Grade Inflation and Non-Equivalence, by Kelly
GPA for the class of 1996 was 2. 64; in 2006, the average GPA E. Godfrey, is available at http://professionals.collegeboard.
was 2. 90. However, during that period, standardized scores
com/data-reports-research/cb/gradeinflation_nonequivalence.
on the SAT remained relatively unchanged.
schools involved in a healthy lunch campaign
are doing better on tests and are less frequently
absent from school because of sickness. A study
conducted by Michele Belot of Oxford University
and Jonathan James of Essex University examined
students’ test results and compared them with
those of students in neighboring areas who were
not served the nutritious food. The results were
clear: Healthy school lunches boost student
learning.
Food for Thought
