— Rather anxiety-inducing

Grades do not determine intelligence, but they can help one get into one's dream university or land a high paying job. But is it more challenging to score a high grade if one is not familiar with the grading system? To explore this issue, we interviewed a few students who have previously received their education from different parts of the world.

Luise Maria Kozlowski (26), who previously studied Law in Berlin, is currently taking a master’s in Law at the University of Oslo. She considers the grading system in Norway very generic, compared to the German system, and she adds «I am kind of satisfied with the grading system». She further suggests that it is much easier to get good grades in Norway than in Germany.

Grade Explanation

Ekin Ince Ersvaer (26), who earned her bachelor's from the University of Warwick, England, says that she is surprised with the grading system in Norway. As she explains, in England, the grades are based on numerical points rather than alphabetical grades, and the students always receive feedback with the grade, identifying both strengths and weaknesses in the assignment evaluated. This is not the case for Norway, where the students sometimes have to apply for a grade explanation, regardless of the grade received.

— Being used to the detailed feedback in England, I struggle to make sense of the grade I receive. Simply reading that A is excellent, B is very good, and C is good does not help me make sense of my strengths and shortcomings in the relevant assignment. In England detailed feedback is given after each assignment without students having to ask for it, she says.

The lack of an automatic and detailed grade explanation is a common complaint among the international students Universitas has talked with.

Sarah Mahoney, who completed her bachelor's in the US, explains that the feedback she received so far in her Masters' courses at UiO is less detailed and lacks clarity when compared to her previous education. Ersvaer had similar complaints about som of the feedback that she har received:

— The explanation I received, consisted of a few general sentences. I do not think I can improve myself based on such general feedback, she says.

Cecilia Marcela Bailliet, a professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, explains that, surprisingly, most requests for explanations of the grade are from the students who received an A.

— These students are usually very anxious as they think about issues they did not address, possible points of contradiction, gaps in analysis, etc. They may also be very self-critical and unaware of their cognitive gifts. Hence, they may be in shock when they receive an A.

Bailliet also mentions that the feedback is available on Canvas.

Number of graded assignments

Another difference identified by Mahoney is that the final grade in her courses has been based on a single examination assessment.

— In the US, students are evaluated several times by quizzes, midterm, paper, and final exam or project, says Mahoney.

By having multiple graded assignments, she argues that the students are able to gauge how they are doing and also have a chance to understand the grading style of the professor.

— I find the Norwegian grading system rather anxiety-inducing since my course grade is based on a single exam», she adds.

Although some courses may have a single graded assignment, this is not the rule.

— Every class is different, some professors break up the grade between a mid-term paper or oral presentation and a final exam or paper, Bailliet clarifies.

She also mentions that not all students are able or willing to participate in class presentations, therefore some courses end up being based on one research paper.

Are the grades based on a curve in Norway?

Grading on a curve pertains to the method of balancing student grades to ensure that a test or assignment has the proper distribution throughout the class (for example, only 20% of students earn As, 30% earn Bs, and so on). Also called marking on a curve or bell curving, this method safeguards grading standards across different classes.

— I follow the curve only if there is a need to, it depends on the overall class performance during the lecture as well, says Arvind Keprate, Assistant Professor at the Oslo Metropolitan University.

— It is hard to judge students based on three-hour exams and especially during digital home exams.

The Right to Appeal

Mahoney applied for a grade explanation at the University in Oslo, and she is unhappy with the explanation provided. However, since she believes the process to be lengthy and formal, she prefers to sit for the exam again.

—The UiO appeal system is a bit intimidating as a foreign student, continues Mahoney.

After a student has received an explanation, they are able to apply for an appeal. You may appeal for two reasons: if there is a technical error, or if you think you didn’t receive an adequate grade. Once the student appeals, the assignment is received by new examiners, who grade the paper from a scratch without knowing the previous grades, in accordance with the assessment guidelines. You can ask for an explanation of the second grade, but you cannot appeal again.