Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Grade inflation is the trend over time of awarding higher academic grades for work that would have received lower grades in the past. It reflects a decrease in the academic standards required to achieve certain letter grades.
Related terms
Academic Standards: The set criteria or benchmarks that students must meet or exceed in their academic performance.
Achievement Gap: The observed disparity in educational performance among subgroups of students, often categorized by socioeconomic status, race, and gender.
Educational Assessment: The process of documenting knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs, usually in measurable terms