The Platform: Dr Michael Johnston discusses university grade inflation
Dr Michael Johnston
3 September, 2025
Dr Michael Johnston talked to Michael Laws on The Platform about grade inflation at New Zealand universities, explaining how A-grade rates have increased from 22% to 35% since 2006 and pass rates now exceed 90%.
Dr Johnston argued that this trend stems from universities' commercial focus on retaining students for fee income, creating pressure to pass students regardless of assignment quality. Listen below.
Read our report "Amazing Grades: Grade Inflation at New Zealand Universities" here.