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- Apr 25, 2014
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True, grades don't compare across schools, but knowing how someone compares to their peers who went through the same thing is valuable in itself. It would give step scores some context that they currently don't have. under the current system your step score is the only metric that defines you in a true p/f system. Sure, there's a fairness and objectivity to that, but having context could be valuable. A 240 from a top student vs an above average one vs a below average one each tells a different story.
how is that story different? not to mention all the true p/f schools are great schools, so it's assumed you're a good student besides the step 1 score. it's not like many people get into lerner and then become a slacker. a 240 from a "poorly performing" student in a graded school would be more impressive to me than one from a good school. the first one would show me intelligence as a strong point whereas the second would show intelligence as a weak point. If both have the same score on an exam which basically values your determination and hard work over time, I'm going to take the one that indicates higher intelligence 100/100. Not to mention if you start out at a way better school (therefore indicating most likely a better student at start of school, but end up with same score as someone who went to a worse school, that reflects poorly on the good schools' kid).