Round Table China Should we stop grading students?
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Dec 23, 2025 Join Steve Hatherley, a guest contributor specializing in education policy, as he explores the bold move to eliminate grading in classrooms. They discuss China's new exam reforms aimed at enhancing learning experiences. The conversation dives into innovative alternatives like portfolios and project-based assessments, and highlights Peking University’s experiment with dropping GPAs. Steve emphasizes the need to cultivate curiosity rather than just alleviate exam pressure, raising compelling questions about the future of education.
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Policy Shift Away From Exam-Centered Schooling
- China is actively limiting routine exams and rankings to reduce academic pressure and refocus on holistic development.
- The move signals a wider rethinking of how educational success is defined worldwide.
From Scores To Bands: A–D Evaluation
- First and second graders will no longer take written exams, and older grades face strict limits on semester tests.
- Schools must stop public rankings and shift to level-based evaluations (A–D) to curb 'score worship'.
Public Rank Lists Changed Lives
- Steve recalls huge posted score sheets ranking students from top to bottom during his schooling.
- Those public rankings shaped opportunities and caused pride for top students and shame for those lower down.