EFFECT OF GRADES IN A STUDENT'S LIFE

Grades serve as an indicator of one's academic knowledge. Thus they help classify students in educational institutions. The effectiveness of grades in motivating students is quite unpredictable. Grades might transform a dull student into a brilliant one. However they might also cause the exact opposite transition. Grading has therefore a significant impact on the way, the students work towards their goals.

   Principally established for the purpose of evaluation, there are different grading systems in various parts of the world. Each Canadian state houses a unique grading system, ranging from letter based grading to point based evaluation. These states even differ in their policies of absolute or relative grading. Within the states different courses have different grading criteria. Absence of a uniform grading system tends to create confusion amongst the students since one might be an A grade here and A- or B+ at some other place. This disparity disappoints many students, since it discredits their efforts, and puts off the working spirit in them.

  Furthermore the grades are mistakenly considered to be the parameter of success in all walks of life. This perception causes students to lose their hope when they receive a low grade. Students then simply consider hard work as fruitless and so don't strive further. Over the years there have been many instances where the students have committed suicide after being depressed by their results.

  Moreover grading has furious up the competition amongst students. But this has also put a greater pressure on them. Many shining students fail to deal with the pressures during the exams. Many great thinkers and scientists fall in this category. Albert Einstein was a weak student as far as grades of some subjects were concerned but he was the person who made the most effective use of his brain. So for students who can't uphold pressure, grades seem to be of no motivation. In addition, a pass or fail policy is sometimes used. This policy pushes back the motivational spirit of students due to the belief that they need to work, only enough to pass the subjects.

However, the grading system has been in practice for a few centuries because of the need to differentiate people, for various tasks. Imagine the disarray in the world, had there been no grades. How could one get a job or admission to a university then? Grading allows some criteria to be ascertained which facilitate the normal functioning of society and helps filter people .Great institutions such as business companies have set some standards, and only those who comply to these are selected and it is grading which determines that who passes the standards. Grading therefore pushes students to do something that stands them out, when they apply to become part of some prestigious institution.

  In addition to this, point based evaluation enables students to study subjects of their own choice if they score above a certain threshold. Thus grades maintain a motivational spirit in students and keep them firm to their career goals. Further these enable the students to have a vivid idea of their position, in terms of progress towards their goals. So students can judge what to do to achieve them. For instance if someone scores poorly on exams but still wants to pursue his goals  then grades remind him of constant hard work.

  The desire to get good grades forces students to study a lot and work rigorously. This in turn enhances learning and enthusiasm for the subject. The person starts to develop interest for the subject and it is this that motivates him. One important aspect is that the grading, particularly the point based one, is not very generous. Therefore one has to work really hard and one gets a taste of the problems one has to face in practical life.

   Grades are an essential ingredient of present day educational systems. The motivational nature of grades is circumstantial. For some, grades might be the cause of progressing towards their goals or a tool that takes them near their goals, but for others it is the cause of demoralization that puts off their motivation. Later case is exceptional.