Proposed Grade Cap at Harvard Aims to Tackle Inflation
A recent proposal from Harvard faculty suggests implementing a limit on the number of A grades awarded to students, part of a wider initiative to address the issue of grade inflation.
The Harvard Crimson, the university’s student newspaper, reported that a committee has proposed significant changes to the grading system. This could reduce the percentage of A grades given to undergraduates by potentially half.
The 19-page proposal, released on Friday, suggests that A grades in each class should be capped at 20%. It also allows instructors the option to award up to four additional A grades beyond this cap.
If approved, these changes would take effect in the 2026-27 school year and introduce an “average percentile rank” to determine honors and awards. The Crimson noted that the motivation behind these changes is to address a grading system that no longer effectively differentiates student performance.
An October report from Amanda Claybaugh, the dean of undergraduate education, revealed that 60% of grades awarded were A’s, a significant increase from just a quarter of Harvard undergraduates receiving A’s two decades ago. Grade inflation has been on the rise since the late 2010s, spiked during the pandemic, and is currently stable.
Claybaugh stated, “Many faculty agree that grading has become overly lenient and inconsistent, diminishing its purpose and undermining our academic mission.”
Stuart Seaver, an alumnus and the chair of the faculty committee, mentioned that roughly 60% of courses already align with the proposed cap. Instructors would still have the choice to opt out but would need to classify their courses as satisfactory or unsatisfactory if they do so.
The committee acknowledged concerns about fostering competition but emphasized that these recommendations are necessary to restore focus on academics, build trust in the grading system, and align incentives with their educational objectives.
Harvard University has yet to comment on the proposal.
