Having a glimpse of the current situation in education
around the globe, we may marvel at the large variety of
examinations students must take each semester. Apparently,
giving grades is considered the most common method to
evaluate the performance of a student. The entire teaching
system cannot do without it. In a sense, pursuing high
grades is indeed an essential stimulus for students to
concentrate on their textbooks. It is admitted that marks
really encourage the students to learn, but their importance
should not be exaggerated.
Evidently, the grading system urges students to study
hard for the "Top One", a sacred position in their eyes. No
one wishes to fall behind. Thus, once a competition is
started among the classmates, learning efficiency might be
enhanced. Those who win will make greater efforts to
safeguard their superior results, whereas those who lose in
the competition will work harder to erase past mistakes and
continue the fight for a better outcome next time. It is due to
such a mental state that students gain the initiative to learn.
Researchers at China Academy of Social Sciences
conducted a survey in 10 key high schools in Shanghai.
Th ey drafted a list of questions centering on motives to
study hard at school and asked the students to fill out the
questionnaire. Among the 2,000 students who wrote out
their answers, over half of them mentioned the desire to gain
high grades in the National College Entrance Examination.
Grades also help reveal a student's shortcomings in
studies. Whenever a new round of assessments is done and
the final grades are announced, students will have the
opportunity to discover their weak points on some subjects.
They may go all out to find the reasons for the loss of marks.
After a brief review, it is natural for them to finally notice
what has been neglected previously and obtain an objective
attitude toward their school performance. From then on, their
attention might be focused on those drawbacks indicated in
the test. As a common notion suggests, learning from past
mistakes helps avoid future ones. If such a function works,
progress can be made.
Nevertheless, "high grade, but low ability" has become
an undesirable feature in some students. Meanwhile, lower
grades might also lead to the complete loss of confidence in
studies. As a result, schools ought to avoid such two
extremes. The learning process is a comprehensive one that
involves more than obtaining grades and passing
examinations. For instance, starting a large variety of
programs aimed at broadening the mind and cultivating
interests, offering students to take part-time jobs to increase
experience, organizing colorful activities, all these enjoyable
opportunities to learn may encourage better academic
performance and prepare them for future challenges upon
entry into the work force.
Consequently, as long as the grading system is
managed appropriately at schools, students will always
cherish the dream of gaining high marks and thus have the
impetus to fight for it. Concerning all the details mentioned
ab o v e , there is every reason to believe that grades
contribute much to stimulating a student's passion for
learning.