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Harvard profs may OK limit on A's, and students aren't happy
Harvard's faculty is considering putting a 20 percent cap on A grades.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 121 min read
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Inflated grades lead to deflated pay
Students who receive good grades for mediocre work tend to learn and earn less in the long run.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 122 min read
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Now that 'A' is for 'average,' Harvard considers adding A+ grades
So many Harvard students earn A's they university may add an A+ grade to signify excellence.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 302 min read
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Idiocratic education
Relying on AI to do the math for you is "a recipe for idiocracy."

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 20, 20253 min read
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Unready or not, they're going to college
A third of high school graduates (or less) are ready for college math and reading, but a majority will enroll in four-year colleges.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 13, 20252 min read
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Harvard students fear tougher grading: 'I skipped classes and sobbed in bed'
Harvard students are distressed by the prospect of tougher grading standards.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 1, 20252 min read
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Teachers are skeptical of 'equitable' grading: 'Students sink to lower expectations'
Teachers don't like grading "reforms" that lower expectations.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 20, 20252 min read
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As attention spans get shorter, so does the SAT -- and soon the ACT
The SAT, and soon the ACT, are changing to cater to students with short attention spans.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 20, 20252 min read
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College students don't spend much time studying
College students don't spend much time studying or working for pay, but expect high grades for little effort.

Joanne Jacobs
May 2, 20251 min read
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1460+ (SAT) or 33+ (ACT) and you're in at U of Austin
The University of Austin will guarantee admissions to students with very high test scores.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 1, 20252 min read
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Honesty is the first step to higher achievement, and it's a doozy
As achievement falls, the "honesty gap" grows.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 20, 20252 min read
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He had a 3.4 GPA, but he couldn't read
Passing special-ed students along with high grades and a diploma -- but no effective instruction --doesn't do them any favors.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 19, 20252 min read
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Parents say kids are learning in school, but students say 'meh'
Parents overestimate how well their children are doing in school.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 29, 20251 min read
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Teens are doing less homework, earning higher grades
Teenagers are working less and earning higher grades. Everybody's "phoning it in."

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 18, 20242 min read
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If tests are optional, calculus is mandatory for aspiring students
Taking AP Calculus is almost obligatory for students applying for top colleges, even if they aren't interested in math or science majors.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 12, 20241 min read
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A's in English but he can't read: Deaf student wants job training, given a diploma instead
A deaf student with 3rd-4th-grade reading and math skills was given high grades and a diploma, ending special-ed services.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 6, 20242 min read
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Is everybody cheating?
Cheating is common for college students. Many think A is the only acceptable grade.

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 14, 20242 min read
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An 'F' for grading: Can expectations go any lower?
Grading may be stressful, writes George Leef on the Martin Center for Academic Renewal. It may deliver unwelcome news to students or...

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 4, 20242 min read
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Most grades don't match test scores: Is that a problem?
Most grades don't match students' test scores, according to the Equitable Grading Project.

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 13, 20242 min read
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'Locking in' learning loss: Math grades didn't return to pre-pandemic normal
Grade inflation soared when learning went remote, writes Amber Northern. Lax requirements to turn in work, fewer graded assignments, and...

Joanne Jacobs
Aug 6, 20241 min read
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