Everyone is familiar with grading scales. Students show up to class, take tests and get given a grade based on the right answers. This scale makes sense Samantha Stein Opinion Editor for things that are pure facts and are not subjective.
However, there are some things that are very difficult to grade right versus wrong. In humanities courses, students write papers and give presentations rather than calculate numbers. Art is created from someone’s own unique perspective. Both of these are harder to grade than math or science problems. With math there are a few solutions that are correct, one of which is typically deemed “more right” by the professor.
Even in long math problems, with all the work shown, there is an answer that, within a few decimal points, is the answer that the professor expects you to find. In more subjective and creative matters such as the arts, how do you grade someone’s art on an objective scale? Art tends to be very personal. Because each of us have our own experiences and perspectives on the world, it can be hard to say what the correct way to create art is. That is why the typical grading scale is more arbitrary for some courses. As a student in an art heavy major, I find that a lot of my professors have to get to know the student and watch their progress rather than grade based off a few correct answers. Essentially, those professors grade based on our effort rather than our answer.
Of course, it’s difficult to grade on a scale that’s individualized for every student as well. Even in writing and art, there are basic things that are easy to either have or not have. For example, when writing a paper, there are certain grammar rules that have to be followed. When writing a research paper, you must credit your sources to avoid plagiarism. There are pros and cons to having an objective grading scale versus a subjective one.
All in all, I believe both should be used when grading a student. However, the biggest thing to remember is that as long as you work your hardest and do the absolute best you can, at the end of the day, your grade is just a number. For those worried about a GPA being too low for employers, know that the number does not represent your ability to do something. Just because a student got a D in their class does not mean that they didn’t gain valuable experience that will benefit them in their future. It’s much more important to follow your passion and do what you love with all your effort rather than worry about a grade on a test. Grades for the most part are very arbitrary.
There are so many factors that cannot be graded. For example, no one can put a grade on determination, the drive to learn or kindness. Once you’re in the “real world” and working a full time job, no one will care if a student got a D in their chemistry class freshman year of college. They will only care if you are a good employee and enjoy what you’re working on.
