Bell Curve Scoring Whenever you hear the phrase “graded on a curve” the class splits into two types of people: the confident and the terribly stressed. In my school, there is an established grading scale meaning whatever score an individual gets on an assignment is comparable to a rubric and gets a score based on his sole abilities. Grading on a curve is a bit different. This grading method calculates the average grade and determines how each student compared to the average. Bell curve grading doesn’t measure how much of the material a student retained, per say, but instead, how much more (or less) they knew than their classmates. Bell curve grading is the most competitive type of assessing; each student must not be concerned with doing his …show more content…
No large standardized test in the United States to my recollection uses a curve for grading: not the SAT, ACT, AP exams, nor even state-level tests, such as an SOL. There are many different factors to consider in grading, and the primary one should not be comparative performance. Just because a large majority performed the same does not mean it is average; I am enrolled in higher level classes at my high school and it is expected for my entire class to score above averagely. That would not be possible on a bell curve. This brings up the point of “fairness.” I personally believe bell curves are not fair. Fair should be considered as having the ability to have your own abilities showcased and assessed without interference from outside sources. The bell curve grading is completely conditional and will hoist or hurt a person’s grade based on the pettiest of things. Also, this is not fair if we are comparing between classes. Let’s say there is an extremely smart person in a Stat class at Mountain View. This genius, Bailey, always brought Veronica’s grades down in the bell curve. Now we are in the exact same Stat curriculum class but in Stafford High School; there is a student, Michelle. Michelle performs the exact same as Veronica, but doesn’t have a genius like Bailey in her class, so Michelle’s grade will appear higher. No matter what you definition of “fair” is, that certainly isn’t it. Grades should be given …show more content…
They are “unfair”, unjustly subjective, and just a bad tool in general to measure anyone’s abilities. I see their necessity in the face of extremely difficult tests in which the professor expects everyone to fail on a regular grading scale; however, in day-to-day, averagely difficult assignments, this is too extreme and harsh of a method of grading. There are many greater ways to help a student’s grade, such as raising every student’s grade by the top score’s difference from 100. Another viable option is to take everyone’s scores out of the highest score. Both of these and many more are safer and more beneficial alternatives and still show how people relatively scored among one another. Bell curve grading seems terrible; I am glad none of my teachers employ
Alfie Kohn discussed multiple fabulous points in his article, “Degrading to De-Grading”. The author suggests more effective ways to assess students’ progress other than numerical or letter grades. Kohn goes into detail about why our current grading system is flawed. Grades can cause students to lose interest in learning which causes them to stop taking challenges. If students are not engaged and interested than they are not retaining the information they are being taught. The grading system can also cause students to develop unhealthy competition with one another for instance, “I got a better grade than you!”. Indeed, grades are a wonderful concept, but they tend to be more hurtful than helpful. In some cases, grades can have positive effects on students. For example, setting goals for various assignments, or receiving help where they are struggling. Though, there are alternatives that could make positive changes in the system.
Many teens are facing challenges with being accepted into college because some high schools across the United States do not have weighted grade point averages. Nor do they have equal grading scales. Although some schools follow this code, some do not, and that is unfair to students who take more challenging classes. Along with that, there are many other pros to this situation. For example, according to high school Superintendent Jack Thompson, “The pro of a weighted grading system is an effort to kind of give value to what we would consider a more rigorous class” (qtd. in Bonchak).
Teachers strive for their students to score well because the score also reflects on their teaching. Teachers seem to no longer teach for students to learn material and retain knowledge but to “ace” tests. Some learn to teach according to the test. Students learn the information that is going to be on the test but do not necessarily fully understand the material they are learning. There are certain standards that have to be met with each test. In most states part of the scores reflect the
There are many valid arguments, deeming it unfair to multiple parties. For example, those who speak a different language or have immigrated to the United States cannot easily be equipped to handle the standardized testing well known to our community, because they do not have enough time to master our language before being thrust into the testing realm. Special education students are also discriminated against, having to take the same standard of testing as their peers who do not have special needs. Standardized tests also don’t measure anything outside the scope of what is deemed meaningful education. “According to late education researcher Gerald W. Bracey, PhD, qualities that standardized tests cannot measure include "creativity, critical thinking, resilience, motivation, persistence, curiosity, endurance, reliability, enthusiasm, empathy, self-awareness, self-discipline, leadership, civic-mindedness, courage, compassion, resourcefulness, sense of beauty, sense of wonder, honesty, integrity."” (ProConorg). There is also the argument that teachers are just “teaching the test” rather than instilling our young generation with predominant qualities needed to be successful in life. These tests, according to studies done, are narrowing the curriculum taught, and increasing the price on testing, making it difficult on our educational system’s budgets. Some believe that
Others may say that a standardized tests are fair and objective measure of students. The tests are neither fair nor objective. There use promotes a narrow curriculum. Standardized tests undermine the ability to produce innovators and critical thinkers.
The satirical news site The Onion did a pro and con list of standardized testing which highlights it perfectly. Some of the pros are, “Every student measured against same narrow, irrelevant set of standards” and, “Western tradition of critical thinking best embodied in bubble-sheet format”. One of the funnier cons is, “There are easier ways to measure parents’ income” (The Onion). In a sad way, these have some truth behind them. Which shows how much of a joke standardized testing
Standardized tests are often unfair to a wide range of students. Students coming from high-poverty schools often have fewer resources and weaker teachers (Layton A1). “People are sick of the overkill of test volume and the consequences, ridiculous things like rating art teachers based on the reading test scores in their schools” quote Robert Schaeffer (Layton A1). “Fort Myers, Florida, gives 183 tests during the year!” quote Sen. Patty Murray (Layton A1). There is many ways students can be evaluated more
Albert Einstein once said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” I’ve seen this today, where students are these fish, and these standardized tests that we take are the judges at how well we climb up the tree.
A new study by RAND Corp, in Santa Monica, California found that “between 50 percent and 80 percent of the improvement in a school's average test scores … was temporary and was caused by fluctuations that had nothing to do with long-term changes in learning or productivity”(Olson). This shows that a student’s performance on standardized tests is too inconsistent to accurately display an objective evaluation of their education. Also, as the scores change each year, the ability to evaluate the teacher becomes difficult. In a high school in New Mexico a teacher found that “Students raced to see who could finish the test first, not who could get the most correct answers. … Former high school juniors interviewed this week said many students blew off the tests after being told that the scores wouldn't count toward graduation— unlike the required 10th-grade competency test”(Contreras). This shows that students do not take standardized tests seriously when it does not affect them directly. So, it does accurately represent students or teacher’s academic achievement. Standardized testing is not a consistent way to evaluate a teacher’s ability as well as track a student’s
If they are not graded on that, then will not be able to see how those aspects of their education are necessary in the “real world”. This can also negatively affect their grades. Students that are good at regular assignments, but not good when it comes to tests, it could be a serious issue for them, as it will be harder to get their grades back up. Several teachers told parents that they wouldn’t award the highest number on the scale, or that extra work must be completed to earn 4s, leaving children confused on how to reach the advanced level of proficiency (See “Parents give standards-based grading scale F” ¶ ). Since students aren’t being graded on their classroom participation or homework completion, their grades can take a major downfall if they do make a big mistake, such as bomb a test, and they might not be able to make up for it by earning bonus points from extra credit either. If they do, then it would be a lot more work than it should be. Students who are “standards-based” graded will see their overall grade drop due to the system’s inability to evaluate all aspects of their education, as well as not being able to fully understand its methods.
Standardized testing has been around since the mid 1800’s. Even though testing has been around for a long time it is still debated whether or not it should precisely “score” students. Students have been subjected to standardized tests frequently through their years in school due to laws which have been passed by Congress. Decisions about the evaluation of schools and students are recurrently made by government authority and are often not in the best interest of teachers, students, or their classroom environments.
According to a survey conducted by Robert Winberg, two of every four students prefer taking traditional tests over any other grading evaluation. In fact, most schools do not use a typical grading system like most people would think. Most schools have decided to try a different method. This method assigns students a long-term assignment where they must produce a project and present it at the end of the period, to show what they have learned. Teachers may find this effective, however I do not believe this to be the best option. Despite the horrible opinions and rude sayings about tests, homework, and quizzes, I think they are more effective. I believe the traditional grading system is a more effective way for teachers to grade than an oral-presentation because it is less time consuming, better for kids with social anxiety, and it gives students time to prepare and learn.
Can you please explain what are the basis/es for AM’s not being included in the bell curve. Since, the rep’s are the ones having a hard time working on their stats. It AM’s will be exempted shouldn’t it be proper that rep’s as well as other support be exempted too. If not, AM’s shouldn’t be exempted in the same way too.
Many students all over the world take a test which makes the person be defined of who they are in order to be admitted to a good college or even just a regular test. There are students that try hard to have a good test score, but as much as they try sometimes they don't get a wanted score. The scores that students get doesn't tell everything behind someone taking the test. Every individual can prove that with hard work and dedication to school, they are smart. They are capable of being an excellent student. Having their own way of being smart and not dumb. Students are more important than a number score that they get on a test. Therefore, I believe that test does not define a person.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of students across the nation are required to take many standardized tests. Which are used to determine student’s achievement, progress and growth. These tests supposedly say the outcome of how much knowledge a student has or has not learned. The stakes are high all because of a test score. Standardized tests may determine a pass or fail status for grade levels through K-12 or admission into colleges if you are taking an ACT or SAT standardized test. It is unfair and a very unreliable method to use to measure the performance of students. Standardized testing methods creates more harm than good and should be revised because many students, teachers, and schools suffer from this annually.