A BEJEAP Topics article.

Abstract

This paper reports some facts about grading standards across a varied sample of 16 countries participating in the 2003 OCSE-PISA Survey. Our main finding is that in all countries except Ireland and the USA there is conspicuous heterogeneity in standards across schools (Table 3, Figures 1 & 2). In most of the countries where heterogeneity is present a grading-on-a-curve practice emerges, with grading standards increasing with average competence of the school's students (Table 4, Figures 3 & 4). Where this phenomenon is more pronounced, it may be related to existence of a tracking (as opposed to comprehensive) school system (Table 5, Figure 5).

Submitted: July 21, 2008 · Accepted: February 20, 2009 · Published: April 9, 2009

Recommended Citation

Dardanoni, Valentino; Modica, Salvatore; and Pennsi, Aline (2009) "Grading Across Schools," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy: Vol. 9 : Iss. 1 (Topics), Article 16.
DOI: 10.2202/1935-1682.2065
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/bejeap/vol9/iss1/art16