Points vs. Standards

You guys may know that there are 2 main types of grading at our school. At Fort, teachers use either Points based grading or Standards based grading. These 2 are very different, and their traits are very important in determining your class overall grade. I had an interview with teachers, the principal, and more to compile info about both for you guys.

by Isaac Dennett

Let’s start with Standards based grading. It revolves around grading you based on your skills and topics. For example, in Standards based grading, you will be graded off of your ability to write with correct grammar in English class, or your ability to use shading in art class.. All of these classes have their own standards you will be graded on for things you do inside the classroom. Mr. Scheidel had this to say about standards based grading. “The standards based grading system accounts for the negative effect low grades can have, with you being able to improve on your standards for a higher grade”. He also said “The standards based grading system cuts down on the artificial inflation of grades from extra credit and higher points assignments leading to a more accurate grade.” This is true with many teachers, saying that students are better able to accurately see what their skills actually are, rather than a number that provides very little information without context. Some of the only downsides come from your inability to see what specific assignments caused you to be where you are.

Points based grading is drastically different from standards based grading, and is the more used grading method of the two. Points based grading revolves around grading you based off of work. The work can fall into categories, such as homework, notes, quizzes, projects, and more. This means that those groups will have a smaller or larger impact on your grade. This means homework can change your grace very little, and tests will have the most effect. Mr. Scheidel says this about points based grading. “Points based tends to cut down and waste student time due to the effect high point assignments can have on students’ grades.” What he said, explaining this, is that students can do many hours of homework, just for a high point test or quiz to take away all of that student’s work because of its higher weight. A lot of teachers share this opinion. It is so much harder to raise someone’s grade when 30 percent of it is tests!

In the end, both systems need each other. There isn’t a definite better system. Both have pros and cons. You just have to know how both systems work, and how to best ‘take advantage’ of the system we have.

BY

Teacher Juliana Myers

Q. Name?

A. Mrs.Myers

Q. Favorite color?

A. Dark Green (Evergreen)

Q. What do you teach?