Grading
system in Evaluation
Prepared by
SABARISH-P
M.Sc., M.Ed., JRF & NET
Lecturer in Physical Science, Arafa Institute for Teacher Education
Attur, Thrissur.
ØWhen
students' level of performance are classified into a few classificatory units
using letter grades, the system of assessment is called grading system.
Ø In
grading, classification is made on 5 point, 7 point, 9 point scale etc.
Ø Grading
considered to be more scientific way of evaluation as it solves the problems of
borderline cases by including all the pupils falling within a wider range with
in the same grade.
Ø Identifies
the students' performance level within a wide range.
Ø Grading
involves the use of set of specialized symbols whose meaning ought to be
objectively defined in terms of specific criteria.
Ø In
5 point scale grading system the categories are
Score %
|
Letter grade
|
interpretation
|
75 and above
|
A
|
Outstanding
|
60 – 74
|
B
|
Very good
|
45 – 59
|
C
|
Good
|
30 – 44
|
D
|
Average
|
Below 30
|
E
|
Below average
|
Ø In
9 point scale grading system the categories are
Score %
|
Letter grade
|
interpretation
|
90 – 100
|
A+
|
Outstanding
|
80 – 89
|
A
|
Excellent
|
70 – 79
|
B+
|
Very good
|
60 – 69
|
B
|
Good
|
50 – 59
|
C+
|
Above average
|
40 – 49
|
C
|
Average
|
30 – 39
|
D+
|
Marginal
|
20 – 29
|
D
|
Need improvement
|
Below 20
|
E
|
Need improvement
|
Types
of Grading
Direct Grading
Ø Judgment
of any given phenomenon (achievement, skills, personality traits etc.) by the
evaluator in terms of most appropriate letter grade without assigning the
scores.
Ø In
examinations, the evaluator will award a particular grade to the answer for
each individual questions on the basis of it's quality.
Ø Then
the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculated for obtaining the overall grade of the
student in a particular subject.
Letter grade
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
G
|
H
|
I
|
Numerical Value of the Grade
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Calculation of GPA
Q.No.
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
Obtained Grade
|
F
|
B
|
A
|
G
|
D
|
H
|
E
|
E
|
B
|
F
|
C
|
B
|
E
|
D
|
B
|
Grade Point
|
4
|
8
|
9
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
5
|
5
|
8
|
4
|
7
|
8
|
5
|
6
|
8
|
GPA
=( 4 + 8 + 9 + 3 + 6 + 2 + 5 + 5 + 8 + 4 + 7 + 8 + 5 + 6 + 8)/15
=
5.86 = 6
Hence Overall Grade will be 'D'
Direct
Grading-Demerits
Ø Massive
and time consuming.
Ø Mistakes
can't be ruled out.
Ø Suitable
for small groups.
Ø Not
feasible for large-scale examinations.
Indirect Grading
Ø Method
of awarding grades through marks.
Ø Marks
are awarded to the individual questions on the basis of the prescribed marking
scheme.
Ø Find
out total mark and converted to grade.
Ø This
can be done in two ways
1)
Absolute
2)
Relative
Absolute
Grading
Ø Some
fixed ranges of scores are determined in advance for each grade.
Ø The
score obtained by a student in a subject is converted into corresponding grade.
Eg.
Score %
|
Letter grade
|
Interpretation
|
90
– 100
|
A+
|
Outstanding
|
80
– 89
|
A
|
Excellent
|
70
– 79
|
B+
|
Very
good
|
60
– 69
|
B
|
Good
|
50
– 59
|
C+
|
Above
average
|
40
– 49
|
C
|
Average
|
30
– 39
|
D+
|
Marginal
|
20
– 29
|
D
|
Need
improvement
|
Below
20
|
E
|
Need
improvement
|
Relative Grading
Ø The
grade range is not fixed in advance.
Ø The
fundamental premise of relative grading is that if an evaluation result is
plotted on a graph, the graph will be assumes the form of a Normal Probability
Curve
Procedure to find out Relative
Grading
Ø Group
of students are divided into different groups.
Ø Find
out number of students in each grade using statistical methods.
Ø Using
this number of students in each grade, find out the range of each grade.
Ø Corresponding
grades are given to each students who fall in different ranges.
