Grades- the final statement that determines a student’s future. Is it fair that one mark can change everything? I undoubtedly believe that grades are not the final statement and they should not be considered singularly to assess a student’s calibre. Grades are not a comprehensive measure of a student’s abilities. They can be influenced by many factors beyond the student’s control. For example, a student’s grade could be affected by the teacher’s teaching style, the set of rules created for the assessment, and teacher bias. Furthermore, some assessments only test one aspect of the subject being taught, making it unfair for the students who may not be good at it.
Assessments are not always FAIR
Time and again we see that Term Assessments aren’t always fair. It is highly probable that a student has worked very hard on an assessment but she gets only got a fraction of what she had expected in the test. Imagine how she would feel! Another way assessments aren’t fair is when most students struggle to complete the assessments in the given time frame. The question arises: Shouldn’t the time frame given be the average of how long it takes to complete the test? Time shortage causes rushing, incomplete work and work that doesn’t reflect the student’s rightful abilities.
Teacher Bias
The second thing that irks me is teacher bias. I feel that particular teachers have a bias against some students, hence their bad grades. An example from my own book- I once worked very hard on an assignment and everyone I showed it to appreciated it, but when I got my grades, I felt disheartened. Upon reviewing the rubric, I found out that the teacher that marked my work, wasn’t really on the same page with me. So, I got the answer to my bad result. Teacher bias may not be a deliberate act to put down a student yet no one will disagree that we are after all human and we all have our likes and dislikes.
Not Comprehensive
Last of all, assessments are not always comprehensive. They don’t generally test every aspect of a subject and what has been taught. Different people have different strengths. If the test only examines one branch of the subject, it is unfair to those who aren’t good at it. They may be good at other aspects of the same subject. For example, some students may not be good at the fundamental rules of algebra but may be excellent at solving equations. This way, the limitations of an assessment put down some students.
Everyone would surely agree that grades are not the final statement on a student. Grades aren’t the perfect measure of a student’s abilities. They can be influenced by many factors and these grades should thus be complemented by other criteria that assess the broader performance of a student. It is important to remember that grades are JUST ONE PIECE of the puzzle when it comes to assessing a student’s understanding and in no way should they be considered the final statement!
Grade : 8 (Year 2023)
Place : Sydney, Australia
No Comment