Reports & Media

Newstalk ZB: Dr James Kierstead's report reveals university grade inflation

On Newstalk ZB, Ryan Bridge discussed Dr James Kierstead's new report with Prof Elizabeth Rata, examining how A grades at universities have increased from 28% to 35% since 2006, reaching nearly half of all marks during COVID.

Prof Rata praised the report for providing crucial empirical data on grade inflation and attributed the problem to a cultural shift from merit-based to equity-focused assessment, where students now expect high grades without necessarily demonstrating the required ability or effort. Listen below.