Pass/Fail Grading System

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For many students it is imperative for them to be unsurpassed. In order for this to happen for them these students strive to go to the top. They live for the momentous A’s jumbled around all over their report card. A report card like that lets the student know that every hour they spent painstakingly studying to pass the test or to complete their homework was all worth it. However, what happens when that concept is no longer in place? When there is no longer the will in the student to prosper in their studies because the A that they have strived for is taken away from them? It then becomes hard to stay motivated to stay up all those hours to complete their work, they lose sight of the ultimate goal; to graduate and become anything they want to be. It soon becomes hard for colleges to distinguish between the kids who want to do well and strive for the perfection, and those who are doing just enough to get by. There are many disadvantages that can come of a pass and fail grading system, but perhaps the worst of all is the loss of a quality student.
The quality student that all schools want to see first begins to deteriorate due to this new system through loss of motivation. Imagine being that kid, the kid who has always been at the top because they work hard at what they do. You’re up until midnight trying to finish your persuasive essay but once you realize you’re done you believe it was all worth it because you did your best and concocted an essay sure to get an A. Next week you are sitting in your classroom and your teacher passes back the essays. You ecstatically take yours back and there you see the stamp at the top of your paper letting you know you passed. However, it’s not like the A’s that you’re used to being in that plac...

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...check, some it shows that they need a little extra help because they just aren’t getting it. Of course there are many different meanings this moment can have but there is no way to experience this moment with a pass and fail grading system. The number one problem with it: it’s too easy. It's too plain and simple to "just pass". With that being said, how easy is it to lose sight of the ultimate goal when you can do the bare minimum effortlessly and still get away with it? Letter grades measure a student's success, with letter grades there is competition to be exemplary, thus resulting in better grades between all kinds of students. With letter grades students have the opportunity to stand out from the rest of those who make up their class. With letter grades there may be failure in the beginning, but with letter grades there is no reason for failure in the future.

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