International summative assessment tools

Types of Grading Systems

There are different types of acceptable grading systems around the world. They are classified into seven types:

Grading Percentage– from 0 to 100 percent
Letter Grading and Variations – from A grade to F grade
Standard-referenced Grading– typically comparing students to each other with letter grades
Mastery Grading – Students are rated as ‘masters’ or ‘passers’ until their accomplishment reaches a defined level.
Common Scale– Pass/Fail
Rating of Expectations (or grading of absolute standards) – Comparing student success with a pre-established performance level of quality
Narrative Grading – Writing feedback on learners

The following are a few qualities that can help us determine which grading systems can be considered as ‘good’.

A good grading system clearly and accurately communicates results to students, parents, and teachers.
Like in any other field of living, a good grading system ensures consistency and fairness in the assessment of learning.
Fairness can only be implied when the system recognises which students need special attention or cannot cope up with their studies.
A good grading system measures academic progress and achievement separately from character traits, and behaviors, so that parents and teachers can accurately determine the difference between learning needs and behavioral needs.
A good grading system doesn’t demotivate students, instead helps them understand their aptitude and excel academically as well as in life.