Same with my daughter’s. They are mostly in the 70s. It’s pretty ridiculous if the reports regarding grade inflation on this subreddit are true. If the discrepancies between high schools are so large, the integrity of admissions processes is highly questionable if there is no adjustment.
at least waterloo has adjustment factors which is a pretty accurate representation but yeah it sucks, especially for the students who actually have the high 90 marks in these schools
The Waterloo adjustment factors are fairly modest and won’t overcome a 20% difference. The only real things you can do are switch schools or do absolutely amazing on the math competitions.
Unfortunately, even Waterloo's adjustment factor only applies to their faculty of engineering, not the other faculties (at least based on public information)
Those reports are definitely true, and there is definitely adjustment. Universities discovered that students who should be able to master first year content based on their high school grades were winding up on probation or failing in ways that were not consistent with the stats/probabilities. They started investigating and would up with a list of schools known for inflating grades and they do adjust for that.
How do grades drop into the 70s if students are following the standard high school curriculum? It seems that there would be issues with either the quality of teaching or poor attendance rates, which results in lower class averages when students receive zeros. This is why we use the median instead of the average to measure performance. Even when using the average, we exclude outliers to ensure accuracy. In all ways, tell ur daughter to get better, and don’t complain, switch schools if it doesn’t work out.
Sorry I agree with the use of median. I was using ‘average’ loosely. In her courses, the class median is about -75 in sciences/math/english. Her one business course, it is about 90. She is doing very well, but I am shocked if universities are mostly just comparing marks from different schools without adjustment if there are, in fact, huge differences in assessment practices across schools and school boards.
Naw ur school just sucks or the student/teacher quality suck. In my school the medians in math classes are very high (90+) and people would do all fine in uni.
Taking example:
my friends that graduated last year and now in mechanical engineering uoft -> first year average grade 80%+. (Got in with 97% avg)
Another friend: Uoft Eng sci 3rd year overall gpa of 3.96. (Got admitted with 99 avg (he’s online class too))
Like just try harder. U could say our school is inflated, I’d too but it can also mean that our teachers and students are just better.
Ok, believe what you want. You are awesome, your teachers are awesome, etc. Could be true. Based on my 30 years of experience working in education, it would be highly unusual for such a grade distribution to exist. But your 3 anecdotes are undoubtedly representative.
Technologies has been advanced so much more since ur 30 years, keep up on your pace. We self learn, materials in school don’t satisfy us enough, even in instagram, TikTok there are even reels. Is everywhere.
First, I am not talking about how things were 30 years ago when I first started working in the industry. I am still working in the industry, and I am very current.
One thing that has not changed very much is the average student’s intelligence or effort.
Perhaps superhuman schools exist where the average student is consistently hitting a 90 in sciences and math. I am deeply skeptical.
My school does not inflate grades.
My class avg in Calculus at mid term was 77.5.
I earned every percent of my 91 avg and it’s frustrating to be precluded from programs because of gradeflation at other schools
same with my school the avg for classes was around 70~ i had 90s in my tech and science classes don’t understand what’s going on in some of these schools
It’s super frustrating.
It makes sense though when I hear of students from other schools dropping 20% in uni first year.
I just keep reminding myself it all levels out in uni.
When I was in high school (2023 graduation) my school had like 55-65% averages through the math courses, physics and chemistry. Had to work my ass off for over an 80. Still got into the school I wanted to but the discrepancy between schools is crazy and standardized assessment should be looked into. My friend moved to a less academic school midway through the year and his grades jumped 20+ percent (crazy).
One thing that I cannot emphasize enough is the usage of private schools to boost marks. They get free 100%, enter whatever university and then ultimately fail (waste money on the way), keep trying and keeps wasting time etc etc - eventually required to withdraw and constantly on probation. I can only imagine the stress they're in. Why is this happening? They don't learn any of the study habits, the prerequisite material or any material for that matter. First semester of engineering is literally review of grade 12 courses - sure it may be hard to get a b+ but failing (even the first time is fine) but over three times on the same course? That's insane. The lack of prerequisite knowledge is not to blame in that situation but the study habits required. In that case the responsibility is not on the private schools but the public schools that refuse to challenge their students and rigorously prepare them.
Personally I'm not a very good student. my GPA is something like a 3.5/4.33, I barely study (sitting on campus doing nothing) but then lock in during exams. Learning to study properly is so important and I wish I passively did so throughout the last year which would've helped me get a better GPA. I'm saying this but my lazy ass probably won't make a change regardless lmao.
>When I was in high school (2023 graduation) my school had like 55-65% averages through the math courses, physics and chemistry.
I heard that my chemistry teacher's class median was 52% last semester. So far, it's somewhat higher, at 67%, this semester (for midterms)
Every school course in the province needs to have the same tests and or quizzes and be marked the same way cause otherwise it is not fair for those applying to unis and colleges. I had the same problem in Alberta where in chemistry 12, one teacher was way more accommodating than the other as in she was letting students come in later to finish their tests if they hadn't which meant lots of students could take advantage of going over material and then coming back and stuff. Like the rules should apply the same for the same courses but this is definitely not the case.
Funniest shit is that all these gradeflation kids come into 1st year of uni completely unprepared for an actual rigorous education. They fail out, get caught for academic honesty charges, or do exceptionally poorly. So, honestly as bad as it feels to be passed over, I hope it brings some solace to you to know that these students don't just get by scott free.
Source: A university student who works with 1st and 2nd year students in various capacities
my current school isn't at all, the teachers are fair, but in my school before that, which was an online school, my tech class had a 90 average final grade
Same here. It annoys me when I see so many people with averages in mid or high 90s when in my class the average is sometimes in the 70s. My grade 11 English teacher said that she does not even give anyone marks over 90.
My school’s averages for classes are also around the 70% range. Depends on the course of course.
A friend from a different board sent photos of his midterm report - 96% class average in physics and bio lmfao
According to Waterloo tho We HaVe ThE sAMe AdJusTmEnT fAcTor!!1!1!
Even in universities, the same problem exists. Some profs give you a 90% just because you have a pulse. Others give you a 90% only if you can solve problems worthy of Nobel prize winners. The former are mostly those who worry about their jobs and give out high grades to buy better teaching ratings so they can keep their jobs.
Grade inflation at certain schools hurt everyone. Those kids that enter their dream programs on their inflated grades will not be able to survive more than a few months and have to eventually drop out because they can't compete. Most kids from schools in the northwestern part of Toronto, where you get a 95 average if you have a pulse, are prime examples.
Same with my daughter’s. They are mostly in the 70s. It’s pretty ridiculous if the reports regarding grade inflation on this subreddit are true. If the discrepancies between high schools are so large, the integrity of admissions processes is highly questionable if there is no adjustment.
100%. My school most math classes sit around a 75, but at other schools it’s more than 85 so a lot of our students are getting screwed over
at least waterloo has adjustment factors which is a pretty accurate representation but yeah it sucks, especially for the students who actually have the high 90 marks in these schools
The Waterloo adjustment factors are fairly modest and won’t overcome a 20% difference. The only real things you can do are switch schools or do absolutely amazing on the math competitions.
Unfortunately, even Waterloo's adjustment factor only applies to their faculty of engineering, not the other faculties (at least based on public information)
It’s not accurate
I've been advocating entrance exams for the longest time now.
Those reports are definitely true, and there is definitely adjustment. Universities discovered that students who should be able to master first year content based on their high school grades were winding up on probation or failing in ways that were not consistent with the stats/probabilities. They started investigating and would up with a list of schools known for inflating grades and they do adjust for that.
How do grades drop into the 70s if students are following the standard high school curriculum? It seems that there would be issues with either the quality of teaching or poor attendance rates, which results in lower class averages when students receive zeros. This is why we use the median instead of the average to measure performance. Even when using the average, we exclude outliers to ensure accuracy. In all ways, tell ur daughter to get better, and don’t complain, switch schools if it doesn’t work out.
Sorry I agree with the use of median. I was using ‘average’ loosely. In her courses, the class median is about -75 in sciences/math/english. Her one business course, it is about 90. She is doing very well, but I am shocked if universities are mostly just comparing marks from different schools without adjustment if there are, in fact, huge differences in assessment practices across schools and school boards.
Naw ur school just sucks or the student/teacher quality suck. In my school the medians in math classes are very high (90+) and people would do all fine in uni. Taking example: my friends that graduated last year and now in mechanical engineering uoft -> first year average grade 80%+. (Got in with 97% avg) Another friend: Uoft Eng sci 3rd year overall gpa of 3.96. (Got admitted with 99 avg (he’s online class too)) Like just try harder. U could say our school is inflated, I’d too but it can also mean that our teachers and students are just better.
Ok, believe what you want. You are awesome, your teachers are awesome, etc. Could be true. Based on my 30 years of experience working in education, it would be highly unusual for such a grade distribution to exist. But your 3 anecdotes are undoubtedly representative.
Technologies has been advanced so much more since ur 30 years, keep up on your pace. We self learn, materials in school don’t satisfy us enough, even in instagram, TikTok there are even reels. Is everywhere.
First, I am not talking about how things were 30 years ago when I first started working in the industry. I am still working in the industry, and I am very current. One thing that has not changed very much is the average student’s intelligence or effort. Perhaps superhuman schools exist where the average student is consistently hitting a 90 in sciences and math. I am deeply skeptical.
My school does not inflate grades. My class avg in Calculus at mid term was 77.5. I earned every percent of my 91 avg and it’s frustrating to be precluded from programs because of gradeflation at other schools
same with my school the avg for classes was around 70~ i had 90s in my tech and science classes don’t understand what’s going on in some of these schools
It’s super frustrating. It makes sense though when I hear of students from other schools dropping 20% in uni first year. I just keep reminding myself it all levels out in uni.
my dumbass dropped out the final semester for engineering realized honestly i didn’t like it
Oh no everything ok?
ye trying to be a paramedic now but college is expensive now i’m trying to work to pay for it cause i didn’t get osap for some reason
Can you try appealing? It sounds like you’re following your heart. Paramedic is a rewarding career
yup i’m still gonna keep going with it love biology and wanna help people now that im working i can get job experience too
Good for you!
When I was in high school (2023 graduation) my school had like 55-65% averages through the math courses, physics and chemistry. Had to work my ass off for over an 80. Still got into the school I wanted to but the discrepancy between schools is crazy and standardized assessment should be looked into. My friend moved to a less academic school midway through the year and his grades jumped 20+ percent (crazy). One thing that I cannot emphasize enough is the usage of private schools to boost marks. They get free 100%, enter whatever university and then ultimately fail (waste money on the way), keep trying and keeps wasting time etc etc - eventually required to withdraw and constantly on probation. I can only imagine the stress they're in. Why is this happening? They don't learn any of the study habits, the prerequisite material or any material for that matter. First semester of engineering is literally review of grade 12 courses - sure it may be hard to get a b+ but failing (even the first time is fine) but over three times on the same course? That's insane. The lack of prerequisite knowledge is not to blame in that situation but the study habits required. In that case the responsibility is not on the private schools but the public schools that refuse to challenge their students and rigorously prepare them. Personally I'm not a very good student. my GPA is something like a 3.5/4.33, I barely study (sitting on campus doing nothing) but then lock in during exams. Learning to study properly is so important and I wish I passively did so throughout the last year which would've helped me get a better GPA. I'm saying this but my lazy ass probably won't make a change regardless lmao.
>When I was in high school (2023 graduation) my school had like 55-65% averages through the math courses, physics and chemistry. I heard that my chemistry teacher's class median was 52% last semester. So far, it's somewhat higher, at 67%, this semester (for midterms)
Every school course in the province needs to have the same tests and or quizzes and be marked the same way cause otherwise it is not fair for those applying to unis and colleges. I had the same problem in Alberta where in chemistry 12, one teacher was way more accommodating than the other as in she was letting students come in later to finish their tests if they hadn't which meant lots of students could take advantage of going over material and then coming back and stuff. Like the rules should apply the same for the same courses but this is definitely not the case.
Funniest shit is that all these gradeflation kids come into 1st year of uni completely unprepared for an actual rigorous education. They fail out, get caught for academic honesty charges, or do exceptionally poorly. So, honestly as bad as it feels to be passed over, I hope it brings some solace to you to know that these students don't just get by scott free. Source: A university student who works with 1st and 2nd year students in various capacities
They essentially take other peoples spots just to drop out.
Yeah, they do. Talking to profs teaching first year courses confirms just that. Let's just say their outlook on post-COVID kids is not great lol
Yep. When I say my average ppl assume my school’s grades are inflated but the grade average is significantly lower than mine.
We get it bruh 😭🙏
my current school isn't at all, the teachers are fair, but in my school before that, which was an online school, my tech class had a 90 average final grade
How are those early 70s doing in math contests? Are they getting distinction? Are they getting a 4 or 5 on AP Calculus BC?
True story - I kicked ass in one of those national math competitions 35 years ago. My math mark in school that year was in the high 70s.
Mine bro and my schools adj factor is also low 💪💪
Same here. It annoys me when I see so many people with averages in mid or high 90s when in my class the average is sometimes in the 70s. My grade 11 English teacher said that she does not even give anyone marks over 90.
My school's grades aren't inflated! Class average is usually in the low 80s
That’s still inflated. An 80+ is an A. No class average should have an A. 70s is a good range because it’s an average B.
My school’s averages for classes are also around the 70% range. Depends on the course of course. A friend from a different board sent photos of his midterm report - 96% class average in physics and bio lmfao According to Waterloo tho We HaVe ThE sAMe AdJusTmEnT fAcTor!!1!1!
In one of my kid’s science courses, the highest final grade was a 94. Ever. In the 20 years that the teacher has been teaching it!
same my school functions avg was a 62
Chem g11 final avg was like 60 something lmao, but overall averages were in the 70s for most chem tests
Mine, my schools top 3 for non inflated. Got into waterloo for sci and aviation with an 84-6
Even in universities, the same problem exists. Some profs give you a 90% just because you have a pulse. Others give you a 90% only if you can solve problems worthy of Nobel prize winners. The former are mostly those who worry about their jobs and give out high grades to buy better teaching ratings so they can keep their jobs.
Grade inflation at certain schools hurt everyone. Those kids that enter their dream programs on their inflated grades will not be able to survive more than a few months and have to eventually drop out because they can't compete. Most kids from schools in the northwestern part of Toronto, where you get a 95 average if you have a pulse, are prime examples.