In Soviet times, a five-point system for assessing student knowledge was developed. Its criteria were clearly specified in a special provision, brought to the attention of students, parents and, of course, teachers. And at the present stage of development of the educational system of Russia, the need arose for its modernization. Let's take a closer look at this system.
Features of the modern grading system
The teacher’s task is to develop the desire for self-education in schoolchildren, to create the need for students to acquire knowledge and acquire skills in mental activity. But to evaluate such student activity, a 5-point system is not enough. Therefore, the problem of finding new evaluation criteria is currently particularly relevant.
There are several reasons for this:
- First of all, a five-point grading system is not suitable for determining the level of general cultural skills and special knowledge. And without them, full adaptation of school graduates to the realities of society is impossible.
- In addition, there is an active development of information systems, the possibility of individual growth in the development of which is also difficult to evaluate at 5 points.
Graduate Requirements
From the walls of educational institutions should come true creators who are able to take responsibility, who are able to solve practical and theoretical problems of varying degrees of complexity. And the classical five-point system at school has long been out of date, since it does not combine with the requirements of the new federal standards that were introduced at the primary and secondary levels of schooling.
What determines the effectiveness of training
Any pedagogical system has a goal - the effectiveness of the educational process. At the same time, an assessment of the degree of training involves establishing the quality of the skills acquired by students.
Evaluation criteria for grades in Russian schools imply some differences depending on the age of the students, and represent a quantitative scale from one to five. Theoretically, the school uses a five-point system, but in fact it is a three-point system, because the marks “one” and “unsatisfactory” are practically not put up, since they mean the same thing - the student did not learn the material.
At the moment, serious contradictions have arisen between the requirements that the Ministry makes for schools and the grading system. So, GEF pays special attention to the development of the individuality of each student, the formation of a critically thinking, free, creative person who is able to independently develop their abilities. But, as already mentioned, these qualities are not able to certify a five-point assessment system . Its criteria were created for a traditional school, where the most important aspect was the acquisition of knowledge. They do not include an assessment of creative activity, individual growth, self-education.
Assessment in Russian schools
Many educational institutions still use a four-point grading system. In addition to marks “excellent” (mark 5), “good” (rating 4), “satisfactory” (3), “unsatisfactory” (2), there is also a rating of “one” (1), however, teachers practically do not use it . We’ll try to find out what requirements are developed for each of these points put up in the electronic school journal.
The teacher applies a five-point grading system. Its criteria are associated with several positions, so that each point is a kind of integrated indicator, including:
- the level of knowledge of the student, assessed according to a specific standard;
- comparison of his achievements in relation to the general level of the class;
- comparing the student’s achievements for the previous period, on the basis of which the mark is set.
Unfortunately, such parameters are not always reflected. For example, if the quality of completed math assignments is analyzed, then the main criterion for setting a mark will be the comparison of work with the standard. But there are also works for which the quality of the arguments and facts presented by schoolchildren will be the most important factor when setting a mark.
Many teachers “thin out” part of the “twos” with “fives” in order to get an acceptable result by the end of the quarter, set as the arithmetic average of the current. Assessment, as a rule, is very subjective, depending on the attitude of the teacher to the student.
History of the assessment system
What is a five-point grading system? When did you get the idea to determine the level of knowledge with these numbers? Diligence of students in Russia was indicated by numbers in the 19th century. Then, in the gymnasium, teachers put marks from 0 to 5:
- Zero testified that the child did not cope with his duties. If he received two zeros in one discipline, he would face corporal punishment.
- The unit and deuce were put in those cases if the lesson was prepared carelessly.
- The three exhibited for mediocre attitude to study.
- Four received a student who completed the task well.
- The five were set only with an ideal demonstration of the necessary knowledge.
That was then the five-point grading system. The criteria have not practically changed since then, only the first two marks have been lost. In Tsarist Russia, the teacher evaluated only the implementation of the lesson given at home. He did not take into account the absent-mindedness of the pupil during the class, his abilities, age, and diligence. Poor marks often became an instrument of suppressing individuality, raising anxiety and fear among students.
Assessment in European countries
In general, a system for assessing knowledge with points in the XVI-XVII centuries in Jesuit schools appeared. She assumed a rather humane goal - to replace corporal punishment.
A three-point scale appeared in Germany. With its help, all students were divided into three categories. The best were assigned a high rank, and they had a lot of privileges. But gradually, those students who were considered middle class began to be divided into sub-categories, due to which a multi-level scale was formed, which has long been used to assess the knowledge and skills of students.
Many countries use their own school grading system, but there are international standards. So, the IB Diploma program and IB MYP use a scale of marks from one to seven, and they can only be integers. In Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, a ten-point assessment system is used, and in Ukraine they put 12 points for excellent study.
Assessment in Russian education
In the Kiev Theological Academy in the XVIII century, the highest score sounded like "reliable, good, laudable, honest teaching." The average successes were noted as "dimensional, not bad, mediocre teaching." And careless learning was described as "vile, hopeless, weak, lazy."
In 1937, the official grading system established by the Ministry of Education appeared: for poor performance - 1 point, for mediocre results - 2, for good achievements - 3, for good performance - 4, and for excellent diligence and training - 5 points.
Modern rating
Russian schools are gradually introducing new educational standards. They involve an independent test of knowledge of graduates of primary, basic, high school. So, after the end of the ninth grade, the guys will receive a state final certification. Until 2016, schoolchildren passed only two required exams to receive a document on incomplete secondary education, and from this year they will face tests in four disciplines at once, of which Russian and mathematics are required subjects, and the remaining two can be chosen at will.
In grade 11, an exam is offered in test form. Special criteria for evaluating the exam were developed, and they differ significantly for different academic disciplines. The primary result is multiplied by a certain coefficient, which depends on the level of complexity of the tasks performed by the student. Next, the points are transferred to the five-point system according to special tables presented on the official website of the unified state exam.
Assessment system in Russian universities
Upon admission to a secondary or higher educational institution of the Russian Federation among applicants, a competition of certificates is held. Interestingly, in this case, the contestants are evaluated on a five-point system. The higher the total score, the more chances the applicant has for budget education.
Ten point system
Speaking about specialized training, teachers note the relevance of introducing a ten-point option for assessing knowledge. So, for example, the “troika” with a traditional rating scale is exposed to a student who makes a lot of mistakes. The teacher “regrets” the child who tried, but could not successfully complete the task, carefully displays him “3” in the school journal. The truant and loafer get the same “satisfactory” mark so as not to spoil the overall picture of class performance. As you see, there is no question of any justice.
A ten-point grading system allows you to solve a similar problem, making grades more honest and complete. In addition, it is much more understandable for students, their parents and teachers themselves. When introducing a 10-point system in Russian schools, as has already been done in many countries near and far abroad, teachers will be able to evaluate not only the knowledge of their students, but also take into account their self-development. The guys will have an incentive to achieve better results in design and educational research activities. And the teacher, in turn, will be able to use different forms of control, which will increase the objectivity of assessment.
In addition, a creative search for the teacher himself will be initiated, conditions will be created for a differentiated approach to the formation of value-normative guidelines for students. When applying this approach, assessment and control activities can be brought into line with the direction of renewed education .
Conclusion
We repeat that the five-point grading system, the criteria of which were developed in the Soviet era, has lost its relevance and is recognized by leading teachers as untenable, unsuitable for new educational standards. It needs modernization, the use of new criteria for analyzing the personal growth of students and their educational achievements.
Only if the mark scale is brought into line with the basic pedagogical principles can we talk about taking into account the individuality of each child. Among the priorities that should be taken into account when modernizing the grading system, let us single out the use of multi-level gradation of grades, thanks to which the educational achievements of students will be adequately assessed.
Many countries have already abandoned the five-point grading system, recognizing this option as untenable for the modern education system. At present, the question of its change in Russia is being decided. So, according to the Federal State Educational Standard, traditional points have already been removed in elementary school so that children can develop and improve, without experiencing psychological discomfort.