Which grading approach assesses student performance in relation to others in the class?

The relative grading scales approach is focused on evaluating a student's performance in comparison to the performance of their peers in the class. This method involves ranking students against one another to determine grades. It is often represented as a distribution of grades, where students may be assigned grades based on their performance relative to the overall class performance. For example, a common method is using a bell curve, where a certain percentage of students will fall into specific grade categories based on how they perform compared to classmates.

This approach can foster a competitive environment among students, as learners are aware that their grades depend not only on their own understanding and skills but also on how their classmates are performing. In contrast, absolute grading standards assess student performance against predefined criteria, focusing solely on whether students meet specific benchmarks regardless of the class's overall performance. Descriptive grading scales provide qualitative feedback rather than comparative rankings, and mastery grading scales emphasize mastery of specific content or skills rather than grading in relation to peers. Thus, relative grading scales are distinctly characterized by the comparison of individual student performance to that of other classmates.