A "1" instead of an "A"
Want to study in Germany? Then forget about A's – here every self-respecting student dreams of getting a 1, because 1 is the best grade and 5 is the worst. Additionally, there is a gradation in tenths of a point. For example, "1.3" is an "A minus", and "2.7" is a "C plus".
Grades in the German education system have special significance. They determine admission to master's and doctoral programs, and large companies prefer to hire top students and good students. "Graduating with a 'satisfactory' is simply a disaster for students in engineering fields," says Rainer Bastert, a robotics lecturer at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences.
At the same time, a certified pharmacist will find a job without any problems, no matter what grades are in their diploma, believes Markus Hubert, an academic advisor at the pharmacy faculty of the University of Bonn. However, admission to this program requires an excellent school leaving certificate.
Big secret for a small circle
"I'm happy with my grade," "I got what I deserved" – you hear all sorts of things after an exam at a German university in response to the question "How did it go?" Just not specific results. They are considered a personal matter for everyone. "Many don't want to brag. And if you did just so-so, you especially don't want to talk about it. Besides, grades can lead to competition in the group, and who needs that?" reflects DW master's student Tilman Wagner.
You can get information about your classmates' performance, but only in the form of an "average for the hospital." Usually, students receive the result of a written exam by email. The message also includes statistics for the group: say, 25 percent got a "good", 30 percent a "satisfactory", 5 percent an "excellent"...
But finding out what the show-off Theresa scored or what the geek Stefan got is unlikely. Unless they themselves post it on social networks. Strangely, secretive German students are increasingly publishing their grades online. "Usually, the first to do so is the one who got a 1," shares observations Belarusian student Vadzim Naumchyk of Leipzig University of Applied Sciences.
Hold the instructor accountable!
For objective checking of exam papers, many universities only include students' registration numbers (Matrikelnummer) on answer sheets, not names. If the exam is oral, two instructors are present, one of whom also takes minutes. "And after we tell the student their grade, we explain our decision," says Rainer Bastert.
"Once I got something completely different from what I expected," recalls Tilman Wagner. "It turned out that the paper was graded not by the professor but by his assistant. He didn't know that we were allowed to omit certain steps in solving problems, and he deducted points for that. When I pointed this out to the professor, he changed it to a higher grade without any discussion."
Moreover, according to the Higher Education Act (Hochschulgesetz), instructors at universities have the right to decide on their own how to assess knowledge. Some rely on a pre-prepared answer key: the closer the student matches it, the higher the grade. Others focus on the ability to reason and draw independent conclusions based on the material covered.
"In the exam, I deliberately give so many tasks that it is simply impossible to solve them all. That's not necessary: everyone can choose which ones to tackle. Those who complete 80 percent of the tasks will get a 1," shares his experience Rainer Bastert.
High grades – a concerning trend
Nevertheless, the objectivity of grading in Germany has been questioned by the Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat). After analyzing average grades across universities for 2010 (the last and most comprehensive study on the topic), experts identified alarming patterns. "Students' grades in Germany often depend not only on their performance but also on what and where they study," stated the head of the Science Council, Wolfgang Marquardt.
According to the study, 98 percent of biology graduates and 97 percent of future psychologists receive a diploma with an average grade of "good" or "excellent." But among lawyers, only 7 percent are so fortunate. The Science Council strongly condemned this trend: without objectivity, grades simply lose their meaning!
Rainer Bastert holds the same position. Although grades in a diploma can cost students a career, he strictly assesses their knowledge. "I am not a supporter of handing out good grades to everyone. That blurs the difference between strong and weak students, and that is unfair," the instructor is convinced.