Ministry says final grades below 4 are unjustified

The Ministry of Education and Children says final grades below 4 are not justifiable after a full school year, according to a statement reported by mbl.is. It says the new grading scale for compulsory schools is intended to make grades clearer and more consistent and promote greater equality among pupils.

The scale has drawn criticism, with teachers who spoke to mbl.is describing it as a letter-grade system in disguise. Final grades will range from 4 to 10. The numbers do not represent the percentage of correct answers but indicate how well a pupil has mastered the required criteria. An 8 means the pupil has demonstrated skills beyond the criteria to some extent, a 9 to a large extent and a 10 to a very large extent.

For individual assignments and tests, teachers may use a scale from 1 to 10. In that context, a 7 may indicate a score of 70 per cent. A final grade, by contrast, assesses a pupil’s skills over the entire school year and is not a mark for a single final exam. It should take into account assignments, tests and other performance throughout the year.

The ministry says a final grade of 4 means the pupil has not met the required criteria. The grade should be accompanied by a comment explaining the pupil’s standing and what needs to improve. Pupils may receive grades from 1 to 4 for individual assignments and tests, but repeated low marks should prompt the school to provide more support or tailored learning.