Do grades reflect true ability?

In Guardian, Phil Beadle writes in an Thu 25 Aug 2022 article, "Private schools clearly perceived the system’s inbuilt capacity for gaming as an open invitation, in a way that state schools did not. Why? First, many private schools are standalone institutions. State schools have rigorous moderation processes. In department workrooms across the country, teachers check each other’s grading. If it’s too generous, we mark it down; too harsh, and we mark it up. Yet the independent sector seems to have a less rigorous grade moderation process than state schools. Perhaps it is also less fearful of regulatory authorities. After all, private schools do not fall under the remit of Ofsted, and have their own rather less rigorous inspection regime.

Private schools also face increased levels of parental pressure. Most parents who send their children to private school spend six-figure sums on fees, and therefore expect their children to get top grades. This creates a pressure to deliver results – a factor that probably drove last year’s bumper set of top grades within the sector."

It is not just in the UK, it is everywhere.

Inflation in scoring must worry you

Schools and institutions may design tests and conduct evaluations to ensure that a student's score gradually improves. It could be an illusion where it reflects only inflation in scoring and not a true evaluation of learning.

Test your knowledge by trying to solve problems from varied sources and competitive exams that are considered difficult. You might not solve many problems, but they will give you a better idea of where you stand.