Introduction
Grades can not measure a student's capabilities. Getting an A+ grade on the report card does not represent that the student has learned that subject and has a sharp brain. Famous personalities like Galileo and Einstein never earned good grades, but were geniuses without question and were even ahead of their time. This is one of the best proofs that Grades are not an accurate representation of learning.
Why is the grading system used?
Grading a student represents how well he remembered information. Grades are needed for efficiency and improvement in memory. The grading system works like a feedback mechanism. Teachers can evaluate a large number of students in a small amount of time on just one standard: memory power. But this system is seriously flawed.
Reasons why grades are bad for education
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Grades create mental pressure: Every student likes to get an A-plus grade on his report card, or rather, is pressured to do so. Students are taught that achieving this shall be rewarded with nice gestures, love and respect inside and outside school. On the other hand, not getting enough marks leads to the opposite effect as getting bad grades is bad and shameful, and shall be punished. These students are tagged as weak and poor performers, which sometimes take a toll on their self-esteem and confidence. This comes naturally as the exact same things were taught to their parents and elders when they were a student. Exams keep students awake at night and students get scared of their weak subjects. The fear of getting bad grades creates mental pressure on students.
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The process of learning becomes insignificant: Students only think about getting good grades and do not care about learning. Anyways, labelling mugging up as learning is flawed in the first place. Grading system marks the end goal and students do not enjoy education. They begin to memorise the important parts to get good grades. Giving up on learning hampers a student’s personal development.
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The grading system is not an effective feedback mechanism: Students only study a subject to get good grades and do not understand it. Grades mark the end of the learning process and do not focus on actual development.
Conclusion
The grading system plays a pivotal role in the education system, but it restricts innovation and creativity and encourages compliance and memory. It is a failure of the development process. In short, grades have nothing to do with learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What do grades look like?
Grades look like- A,B,C,D,E,F. A grade is the best, and an F grade is the worst.
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Do colleges see school grades?
Colleges only notice grades for higher secondary exams.
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What does a bad grade signify?
It signifies that the student is either careless or mentally weak.
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Can I succeed in life even if I fail my exam?
It depends on many factors, but you surely have to get good grades to excel in academics-related fields.
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How can I get good grades?
By studying the topics well and revising them multiple times.
