Post-secondary admissions: the use of weighted grades

Abstract

The use of weighted grades in secondary education as a means to give credit for honors or advanced courses is common. Schools justify the use of weighted grading systems based on two primary concerns. First, students, parents, and educators recognize that honors type courses are challenging and believe grade adjustment, based on course difficulty, is appropriate. Second, it is thought that if grade adjustments are not made, these students may leave secondary education with a lower GPA and class rank than students who pursue regular classes. Thus, unweighted grading systems may negatively impact their ability to be admitted into selective post-secondary institutions. This research reviewed the relevant literature on the use of weighted grades in secondary education. The results of this research indicate four primary findings. First weighted grading systems vary. Second, little research exists with regard to the prevalence of weighted grade systems. Third, the use of weighted grade can have either a positive or negative influence on students' GPAs or class ranks. Fourth, public and private post-secondary institutions appear to admit students with transcripts derived from weighted grading systems over tudents whose transcripts were derived from unweighted grading systems.