Noting recent news coverage of grade inflation in Canada, Christopher DeLuca (Queen’s University) and Michael Holden (University of Winnipeg) explore the current state of grading in their article for The Conversation. The authors first explain that as demand outpaces supply for postsecondary seats, secondary students and teachers may be altering their behaviour to meet increasingly competitive admissions requirements. They note that, currently, the primary reasons for increased grades are increased graduation rates and changes to improve high school assessment policies. They conclude that as long as grades continue to reflect what students know, grade inflation may not be the problem that many think it is: “having more students achieving higher grades is good, if the grades are warranted and accurately reflect what students know and are able to do.”
