Grading algorithms threaten degree credibility, claims OfS

The higher education watchdog for England, the Office for Students (OfS), has warned that degree-awarding procedures at universities are overly generous and risk undermining academic integrity.  

The regulator’s recent report highlighted that “inherently inflationary” practices being used at English universities, such as over-reliance on algorithmic marking and dismissal of a student’s lowest mark, misrepresent the achievements of students and undercut the value of top grades over time.  

The OfS specifically cited St Mary’s University and the University of West London during its investigation, as both institutions were deemed to have introduced new degree algorithms to maximise achievement of first and upper-second-class degrees. Teesside University was also noted for similar practice.  

The University of Warwick stands out […] often being more generous in its grading than other higher education institutions

However, the award of top-end degree classifications has fallen slightly in the past few years. 80.7% of finalists received one of the top two grades in 2021/22, compared to 77.6% the year after, and 77.2% the year after that.  

Despite a ‘good honours’ drop post-Covid, nationwide data does reinforce OfS’ fears of grade inflation. Since 2011, first-class awards have sharply risen, whereas the number of upper second-class recipients has remained steady. In 2011/12, 17% of students received a first, and 49% an upper second, compared to 29% and 48% respectively in 2023/24.  

Far fewer students are receiving the lowest grades, indicative of an upward classification creep. Between 2011/12 and 2023/24, 4% fewer students received thirds and 8% fewer received lower-seconds.  

The OfS now expects all education providers with degree-awarding powers to report to them whenever internal modelling suggests they may alter the classification procedure

The University of Warwick stands out from the rest of the country in terms of grade inflation, often being more generous in its grading than other higher education institutions. According to internal reports, in 2023/24, 81.8% of students at Warwick received good honours, 4.6% higher than the national average.  

In addition, between 2014/15 and 2018/19, on average, 28% of degrees handed out by Warwick were firsts, compared to 25.6% across the UK. However, between 2019/20 and 2023/24, Warwick’s percentage of first-class finalists was half a percentage point less than the national average. 

Regardless, the number of upper-second-classes awarded remained comparatively high. This suggests that, although Warwick once tended to be more liberal with first-classes, this has since normalised, even if it remains easier to achieve an upper second class than at other universities.  

The OfS now expects all education providers with degree-awarding powers to report to them whenever internal modelling suggests they may alter the classification procedure in a manner which, intentionally or unintentionally, increases the award of good honours.  

The increase in first and second-class degrees […] may also lead to a “wider inflammatory spiral”, the OfS warned

This comes amidst a broader expansion of OfS powers. The regulator issued its largest-ever fine against the University of Sussex back in April, and newly announced changes outlined by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will allow it to limit student admissions to poorly-performing universities.  

Jean Arnold, Deputy Director of Quality at the OfS, stressed the importance of students, graduates, and employers being “confident that higher education qualifications represent an accurate assessment of achievement”. 

The regulator also warned that awarding students with degree classifications that do not accurately reflect their academic skills risks “lowering the value of the degree and can damage trust in the system”.  

The increase in first and second-class degrees at some universities may also lead to a “wider inflammatory spiral”, the OfS warned, with other universities adjusting their algorithms to reflect this growing trend.  

These measures, alongside new efforts to curb grading practices that drive grade inflation, constitute major reforms by the government and the higher education regulator to address the floundering university sector.