A grading system in education is a system, which involves the teacher’s professional judgment towards the student’s academic performance, that is grades in the respective subject. Grades create a significant amount of pressure and anxiety among the students and even their parents who dream to see their wards towards a successful career.

In the education system, grading was introduced as a process of applying standardized measurement to showcase the different levels of achievement in any course. They are either done as letters, ranges, percentages etc.

While the grading system has its set of benefits it can sometimes backfire when taken too seriously.

Eva Ren, a grade 12 student has overcome her own academic struggles to become a top student and leader. In a Ted Talk, she revealed that students compromise their own learning, just to get good grades on report cards.

So, the question is why do so many care about grades rather than the learning?

We as young people are taught to memorize information found in textbooks only to empty it out on the test papers. 

Creativity among the students is on a decline. We are reluctant to do a task which is not assigned for grading. 

Does that mean students have become work-shy? 

Furthermore

Why do we see them so obsessed with grades? 

Well, because a good grade means so much to us as they will determine our future. Having good grades doesn’t make you more intelligent and smarter than others. No two brains are the same. And just like Richard William said, If the same medicine is prescribed to all the patients, will it work positively?

 Here, I don’t say that grades don’t matter, but we should change our perspective of looking at them. Grades don’t define one’s intelligence or smartness. Neither can they measure the potential of a curious mind. Working back on history, we can find people who despite not being on top of the class, have brilliant minds.

Think of Sir Isaac Newton who did poorly in school, Albert Einstein who received mediocre grades. Thomas Adison was called mentally ill by his teachers but now remembered as a person who lights up our life. So, if we want society to realize the potential of a student, we need to shift the focus away from academic performance alone. 

Instead, give feedback on their learning and stop focusing them to believe that grades are the only key to success, that’s when we can better and truly encourage the leaders of tomorrow.

Always remember your grades don’t define you, so don’t fall prey to them. On the contrary, grades act as stepping stones for your future, so don’t ignore them completely. Keep up with your consistent efforts and the world will be yours. 

 As an educator, Shilpa Kapur demonstrates how grades don’t matter but well- being and life skills do. Since childhood, we are made to understand that if we don’t want to struggle, one should study hard and get good grades.

From a tender age, individuals are imbued with the belief that diligent study and the attainment of commendable grades are essential for avoiding future hardships. This prevailing mindset cultivates the notion that academic success is intrinsically linked to a life free from struggle, often resulting in a narrow perspective of education as a mere means to an end.

 For those who rely on that getting good grades will secure their bright future is not completely true.

Almost half of the graduates surveyed globally don’t feel that higher education prepared them for the career they were about to live. We will on an average change our career between 5 to 7 times in our life. So, this notion of coming to school to learn and acquire academic knowledge, yes, is very important but that fundamental belief that getting good grades is going to guarantee you success doesn’t quite fit.

The pressure on this generation is rising. Increasing demand to get good grades is taking a troll on students’ well – being. Developing self-efficacy, confidence and self-belief should be the most important things to achieve.  

One of the most significant drawbacks of relying solely on grades as a benchmark is the marginalization of holistic learning. Education encompasses a myriad of skills and competencies that extend beyond the confines of traditional academic subjects. Critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration are all essential attributes that contribute to a well-rounded individual. However, these qualities are often overlooked in a grading system that prioritizes quantifiable outcomes.

The purpose of the grading system is to help the teachers evaluate the performance of the students in respective subjects. For ages, researchers and scholars have questioned the purpose and effectiveness of grades. Let’s explore both the pros and cons of the grading system and through this get a better sense of how to proceed further. 

One must not necessarily study and learn for the grades as they are not the only criteria to test your knowledge – let’s make the society understand that grades don’t define intelligence nor potential of an individual.

Education is critical to a person’s development and, by extension, the development of a nation. In our country, we evaluate students’ abilities based on their grades.

 It is not unusual to regard a kid who receives over  90 % as bright, while others who have ordinary grades are seen as weaklings with no prospects. Most of the teaching is theoretical, with very little opportunity for students to engage in hands-on learning and research. Students are always limited to a set syllabus and are not encouraged to get out and about their seems , so there is no opportunity for creative learning and thinking.

In the Indian education system, year-end results and board tests are extremely important, and not receiving good grades can lead to mental bullying, humiliation, and a loss of confidence. Society, parents, and institutions do not treat sports, art & craft, and extra-curricular activities in high regard.             

This narrow focus on academic performance not only marginalizes students who excel in non-traditional arenas but also cultivates an environment where holistic development is overlooked.

As per reports, everyday more than 17 students aged between 15- 25 years commit suicide in India due to non- performance in the examination or an entrance test. 

Watching young children of the country succumbing to the undue pressure of scoring good grades is horrifying.

 One of the points to note here is the thinking of the society, which puts a lot of pressure on students to perform. “Grading is used primarily to declare “Pass and fail” candidates rather than to identify pupil’s strength and weakness.” Grading system Schools across the world are kept as a strong and viable medium to judge a child’s grasping and reciprocating ability. Don’t let one bad grade define your abilities. It’s a minor setback. How you choose to overcome it, is what sets you apart from the rest.

To sum up, always remember your grades don’t define you, so do not fall prey to them. Your grades however act as stepping stones for your future, so do not ignore them completely.

 Therefore, if you want to ace your exam preparation and achieve your best performance, you must focus on working both smart and hard. Failure is an inescapable part of life and a critically important part of any successful life.

“DON’T MEASURE YOURSELF BY

WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED,

BUT BY WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE

ACCOMPLISHED WITH YOUR ABILITY”- John Woode  

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