Massive inflation in student grades worries industry body

Over the last few years, more and more Danish upper-secondary school students have been graduating with a grade score of 12 in their final exams

Stephen Gadd

Are students cleverer than ever or are the examiners just more generous when it comes to giving final grades?

As upper-secondary school students take their final exams over the next few weeks, this vexed question has been raised once again.

READ ALSO: Government to evaluate claims of ‘inflation’ in school exam marks

The confederation of Danish industry, Dansk Industri, is certainly worried about what they perceive as being an unfortunate trend, reports Politiken.

“This is exactly what we feared. There has been a massive inflation in grades,” said Mette Fjord Sørensen, the head of higher education at DI.

“Not only are there too many upper-secondary school students being given a grade score of 12 but there is also a trend where more students get top grades each year,” she added.

Hard to spot the real high flyers
The organisation is concerned that this makes it almost impossible for employers to spot the brightest students if everyone gets a grade 12.

The grading system was overhauled in 2006-2007 and goals set for the expected distribution of the new grades. At that time, it was expected that every 10th student would attain a 12.

However, nowadays around 50 percent of the final papers are graded 10 or 12, so companies worry that they can’t rely on the grades reflecting the level that they expect.

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs