Strict and Lenient Grading Scales: How Do They Affect the Performance of College Students with High and Low SAT Scores?

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Abstract
This study examined the relationship between strict and lenient grading scales, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, and performance on tests administered in an undergraduate Educational Psychology class. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that students with relatively higher SATs obtained better test scores than students with lower SATs and that students evaluated with the strict scale earned higher test scores than students graded with the lenient scale. The Grading Scale × SAT interaction was also significant. The lenient scale impaired the performance of students with low SAT scores but did not significantly affect the performance of students with moderate or high SAT scores. Other Educational Psychology students were administered the LOGO II Scale to determine why the grading scale variable had its greatest impact on the achievement of students with low SAT scores. A significant negative correlation was found, indicating that students with lower SAT scores are more grade-oriented than students with higher SAT scores.

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