CRITERION-

REFERENCED
GRADING
SYSTEM
 Criterion-referenced grading systems are
based on a fixed criterion measure.
 The scale does not change regardless of the
quality, or lack there of, of the students.
 There is no fixed percentage of students
who are expected to get the various grades in
the criterion-referenced grading system.
1.0(Excellent) = 98-100 or 85-100
1.25(Good) = 88-97 or 80-84
2.0(Fair) = 75-87 or 70-79
3.0(Poor) = 65-74 or 60-69
5.0(Failure) = below 65 or Below 60
 Criterion-referenced systems are often used
in situations where the teachers are agreed on
the meaning of a “standard of performance” in
a subject but the quality of the students is
unknown or uneven;

NOTE: Students can help a fellow student in a

group work without necessarily worrying
about lowering his grade in that course.
 A rich learning environment is to everyone’s
advantage, so the students are awarded for finding
ways to help each other, and for contributing to
class and small group discussions.

What prevents teacher who use criterion-

referenced grading from setting the performance
criteria so low that everyone can pass with ease?
There are a variety of measures used to prevent this
situation from ever happening in the grading
system.
 First, the criterion should not be based on
only one teacher’s opinion or standard. It
should be collaboratively arrived.

Second, once the criterion is established, it

must be made public and open to public
scrutiny so that it does not become arbitrary
and subject to the whim and caprices of the
teacher.