For as long as there’s been education there’s been grades. Their defenders believe they spur students on to achieve more, whereas their opponents feel they produce unnecessary stress. Both sides have points to prove.
On one hand, high marks are a real reward that spur students on to succeed. They also provide a simple measure of how children are progressing for both parents and teacher and provide scholarships and college applications.
However the relentless pursuit of high marks places a great burden on students, and as long as they concentrate solely on the numbers in a test report then they will forget the true concept of learning. Moreover, the strict grading system takes no account of individual attributes such as team working, creativity and leadership.
In the end, grades are a method of measuring performance, however they are not the measure of students. Schools need to encourage individuality and practical skill along with examination success.