This is not because I have never turned in a piece of work that was worth 100%. I have oh-so-many examples, going back to primary school, of tests and exams on which I have met every single criterion, and yet been docked marks for tiny random things that nobody else was. (The award-winner in that respect has got to be my old chemistry teacher's 'this line of your diagram projects slightly beyond this one, so you only got 98%'.)
I have no idea how it would feel to get 100% for a piece of perfect work. But I have a lot of experience in how it feels not to get 100% for work that deserves it.
Demotivating.
It feels like marks are arbitrary, and teachers are only there to keep you down. It feels like ability is its own punishment. I spend increasing hours busting a gut to try and make everything absolutely waterproof only to discover that the goals have moved again, and every time I'm a little more inclined not to bother next time. To coast. To do half-arsed work. It teaches me, not to strive, but that there's no point in striving because nobody wants you to succeed.
But I'm too damn competitive to stop trying, which means I just keep banging head-on into that wall, and I keep getting staggered by the knockback; and honestly, there's only so much of that a person can take.
So... what is it that is so terrible about awarding 100% that it can possibly be worse than the consequences of not awarding it?
(This rant brought to you by the 95% on my latest assessment)
* Actually, this is not entirely true. I've got 100% on quite a few computer-marked tests. Just none marked by human beings.
Comments
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Would you have more confidence if all your work was computer-marked?New comment
Depends on your perspective. Computer-marked tests have their own set of problems, from unclear questions to potential bugs to the inability to set long-form questions. But at least computers don't invent picky reasons to avoid giving marks. As it is, every high-achiever I've spoken to has been marked down on something picky that nobody else has, thereby not receiving a perfect grade, at least once.New comment
I've never received 100% either. I've had distinctions but they never get above the mid 90's. I don't think it's actually possible to get 100% on an Arts course...
Oh well. Not to worry. A distinction is a distinction after all.
Matt.
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The nub of the matter is computer marked is a clear right or wrong, person marked is interpretation of your work and subject to the markers perspective. Well done for getting the mark you have.