Grading

Alternative grading methods are as diverse as the instructors who implement them. This guide reviews the underlying principles of alternative grading and describes the similarities and differences between the various approaches.

Are you interested in alternative grading but don't know where to begin? Our collection takes you through the key ideas, with links to concrete ways to get started.

These resources provide an introduction to Standards-Based Grading, an alternative grading philosophy in which students' grades are based primarily on the number of content standards they demonstrate mastery of at any point in the term.

If you’re considering alternative grading schemes, these resources shed light on an approach called specifications grading, or specs grading.

Are you tired of spending time with students who argue for fractions of points? Do you get frustrated spending your marking time on work that's not even close to what you want? Do you want a more equitable grading approach, maybe one that actually measures student learning outcomes? Specifications grading does that, and more. The resources in this collection include examples of specs grading in practice and reflections by practitioners.

These annotated examples of specifications grading schemes can serve as models for your own design. Taken together, the examples illustrate the variety of approaches and emphases that are possible within specs grading.

These resources explore the practice of collaborative grading, an alternative grading approach in which students and instructors determine grades for a given course in consultation with one another.