college grading has either become super easy or college students have become super smart

What has been called a "doozy" of a report concerning college grade inflation has just been released. The report concerns the change in grading over the past several decades, and the findings are truly remarkable.

Way back in the dark ages when I attended college, grading on a curve was in vogue. It simply meant that relative performance in the classroom would determine what grade we received: For example, if ~10% A's and F's were granted, and ~20% B's and D's were issued, then the remainder of ~40% would be given C's. In curve grading, there was competition for grades. Although it wasn't a perfect system by any means, it seemed to work pretty well.


In contrast, the new study reviewed in A History of College Grade Inflation concludes in a most convincing manner that the "old school" curved system of grading, like Elvis, has left the college building. In my opinion, the study's findings also say something important about the state of our higher education system.


So what about the effect on the individual student? Well, with respect to him or her, maybe the obvious question is the following, "Why work harder than necessary if I can get A's just by scoring slightly better than the bottom one half of the class?" {This is especially telling if we consider the findings of another recent report which concluded that three fourths of students entering college weren't academically prepared.}


A's now account for 43% of all grades compared to 15% in 1960. That's an "upgrade" factor of ~3 to 1.


A's and B's combined represent 73% of the grades in public universities today. In private colleges and universities, it's an even higher 86% of the total. That leaves only 14% for C's, D's and F's. Wow!

And if that's not easy enough, the study suggests an even easier way to achieve academic stardom. The best way to graduate with honors while exerting little effort is to attend a private college in the north and "study" liberal arts.


Seriously, I wonder how bad this grade inflation is for our country, our kids and our educational system. If everybody wins, does America win? And if you think the answer to that question is yes, try telling that to the Asians.


Finally, here's perhaps a somewhat equivalent "Alice in Wonderland" thought to ponder. Maybe we'd all feel better about the economy if we just declared the unemployment rate to be 3% instead of 9.2%. That's apparently what the colleges have done with respect to the granting of A's. How ingenious.


Thanks. Bob.