Minister’s answers deepen confusion over new school grading
Monday 19th October 2026 on 17:45 in
Iceland
Answers from Education and Children’s Affairs Minister Inga Sæland about a new grading system for primary schools drew criticism in parliament on Monday, mbl.is reported. Framsókn Party MP Ingibjörg Isaksen said the minister’s response left her with more questions, prompting a sharp exchange between the two.
During an unscheduled question session in Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, Isaksen expressed concern that the details of a new assessment scale remained unfinished even though the school year had begun. Under the proposed system, a grade of 7 would mean a student had met the national curriculum’s competency standards, while grades 8, 9 and 10 would reflect greater depth, independence and skill.
Isaksen asked how students would demonstrate those additional abilities and whether a student who answered every question correctly on a test based on the curriculum standards would receive only a 7.
Sæland criticised Isaksen’s understanding of how assessment works, saying it has long included more than final exams, such as reading comprehension, essays and submitted assignments. Those elements can carry different weight in a student’s final grade, she said. A student could receive a 10 on a final exam but finish with a 9 overall because of other parts of the assessment.
The minister said the new system was intended to reduce differences between schools and give students and parents clearer information about academic performance. She cited an unnamed school where 56 per cent of students received an A last year, saying this could give them an advantage when applying to popular upper-secondary schools.
“It is being used to muddy the waters and make things seem suspicious,” Sæland said. She also told Isaksen that it was not her job to “unconfuse” the MP.
Isaksen said the minister had not answered her questions and that the new system could not be directly compared with the old numerical grading system. She noted that grades 1 to 3 would not be shown to students, while grades 8, 9 and 10 would require them to demonstrate knowledge and skills beyond the curriculum standards.
“How will this additional knowledge and skill be tested so that students can get 8, 9 and 10?” Isaksen asked. She said the issue concerned the grading system for the country’s primary schools.