The recent report from Harvard College on grade inflation (Claybaugh, 2025; hereafter “the report”) is an important reminder of how complex grading is and the many ways it can go wrong. The report focuses on grade inflation, but negative outcomes of poor grading systems include inhibiting learning, undermining achievement, reinforcing inequality, and causing undue stress (Anderson, 2018; Eyler, 2024). The report raises several issues about grading that apply to all academic settings.
