2. Scoring and Grading
Definitions of grading
Types of grading framework
Defining grade boundaries
Fair and Effective grading
Content
3. Scoring and grading
To get marks or score To get overall grade
Marks scored in test, quizzes,
assignment, exams etc.
Grades of overall marks in
subjects
Denoted by numbers, eg. 23 /
50
Denoted by Letters, eg. A / B / C
Scoring Grading
4. A grade represents the extent to which the intended
learning outcomes have been achieved
Grading and scoring are not the same
Scoring (using a rubric) involves assigning an objective
description to a students performance
Grading involves a value judgment; the same score can be
assigned different grades based on a number of factors
Two different teachers might assign different grades to the same
scores in different classrooms
One teacher might assign a score one grade at the beginning of a
term when the students are just learning, and a lower grade at the
end of the term when students are expected to know much more.
Defination
6. based on a defined set of standards when evaluating
a students performance
Absolute Grading
7. Its is based on how a students performance
compared to others in a group/class
Relative
8. It is based on the teachers/raters perspectives of
improvement, growth, or change that a particular
student has performed in comparison with his/her
prior learning.
Self Referencing
9. Relative to schools policy and the chosen
grading framework (criterion or norm-
referenced)
Grade Boundaries
Criterion-referenced
Fixed-percentage
Total points
Rubric method
Norm-referenced
Percentage of students at each
grade
10. 1. Rank order students overall scores
2. Set the percentages of letter grade As, Bs, Cs and so on
that a student can fall into
Divide the range of a normal curve into specific intervals
E.g. top 20% of students get A, next 30% get B, next 30% get C,
next 15% get D, lowest 5% get F
3. Record the grade for these set grade boundaries
Can be arbitrary
No reference to the intended learning targets
Should provide sound argument to justify the validity of the
particular percentages used
Grading on the curve
11. 1. Give a percentage correct score for each student for each
task
2. Multiply each tasks percentage by its corresponding
weight and add these products together
3. Divide the sum of products by the sum of weights to get a
composite percentage score
4. Translate this final score to letter grade
Relationship between percentage correct and letter grade
is arbitrary follow school policy
This method may encourage us to focus more on the task
difficulty than on the intended learning outcomes.
Grading using fixed percentage
12. 1. Assign a maximum point value for each task
2. Sum these maximum points
3. Use the maximum possible total values to set
the letter-grade boundaries
4. Translate this final score to a letter grade
Easy to adjust or give extra credits to an
assessment task to increase scores of students
with low performance
Grading using total points
13. Assign an ordered number to each level of
rubrics.
Higher number represents a higher complexity
Summing across components
Calculate the sum or the average of the
numbers, or use fixed percentage method
Care is needed to avoid grade distortion (e.g. 3 on
a 4-point rubric is 75%; converting this to a grade
of C may not make sense)
Grading using Rubrics Method
15. 1. Inform scoring/grading procedures to students at the beginning of
instruction
- To better inform expectations of students
- To motivate students learning and promote students critical thinking
2. Base grades on student achievement of the intended learning
outcomes, not other factors
- Other factors such as students tardiness, misbehavior, effort, etc.
should be reported separately, if needed
3. Use a wide variety of valid assessment data
- Using several different assessment tasks can provide good validity
evidence to justify the meaning of the grade given
Fair and effective grading
* As adapted from Waugh & Gronlund (2013, pp. 200-201)
16. 4. When combining scores for grading, use a proper
weighting technique
Consider the spread/variability of the scores from a particular
test/assessment task when defining weights
5. Select an appropriate frame of reference for grading
Use of Learning Progression Map as the standards of reference
Give examples of standards
For conventional classroom assessment,
Use absolute grading for pass/fail (P/F) decision when the minimum
standards of achievement have been set
Use relative grading to assign a grade above P/F level to describe how
a student has achieved the intended outcomes with higher degree of
cognitive skills
Fair and effective grading
17. 6. Review borderline cases by reexamining all
achievement evidence
Re-evaluate the borderline students performance
in all assessment tasks given
Favor a higher grade
Cautions of giving a Failing grade (F):
Given to a student who consistently performs below
the minimum standards of achievement
Notion of measurement error of an observed score
Fair and effective grading
* As adapt from Waugh & Gronlund (2013, pp. 200-201)