Universities To Ditch First Class Degree System, Adopt US Point Grading In Trial

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Universities To Ditch First Class Degree System, Adopt US Point Grading
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Several universities around the country are to "trial" a US points grading system, and do away with the tradition first, 2:1 and second class marks.

There will be 20 institutions taking part in the pilot, including several Russell Group universities, which will see students graded from 0 to 4.25 points.

Students will then be given an average mark throughout their course, in the hope of keeping them "engaged". Other benefits reported include greater transparency of the final degree score and a greater international comparability of results.

Universities participating in the trial, which concludes July next year, include Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield and Oxford Brookes.

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The current class system has previously been criticised as a "blunt and inconsistent measure" as so many students now achieve top degrees.

Professor Phil Levy from HEA said: “I am delighted that the pilot will include such a diverse range of higher education providers.

"It is essential that the proposed national GPA system is thoroughly tested in different institutional contexts – only by doing this will the sector and wider public be able to understand whether GPA will enhance the student experience – both while they are studying and after graduation as they seek employment or further study."

The full list of participating institutions can be read here.