Due to COVID-19, YU conducted non–face–to-face online classes in the first semester of 2020. Tests were also conducted mostly online and sometimes replaced by tasks. Because the tests were conducted online, cheating was also a common situation, such as opening a book while solving problems or calling a friend for answers. As so, the test scores were based on absolute instead of relative evaluation.
As the grades were calculated by absolute evaluation, the number of students with high grades increased. Some students complained that the tests were indistinguishable. As grade inflation intensified, there was a growing voice of concern that students would not be able to get a scholarship. The problem was that more people could be on the scholarship list than the quota assigned to each department. Therefore, giving scholarships as scheduled could cause equity problems. If the school decided to abolish some of the scholarships without telling students, it would be a betrayal of trust.
On the contrary, some students received low scores because some evaluation standards were too high. In these cases, absolute evaluation has a disadvantage when the scoring standard is vague and the professor’s subjective point of view is excessively involved.
However, other students said that absolute evaluation was the right solution in this particular situation. Nevertheless, they said it would have been better to take the tests in the university and calculate grades using relative evaluation.
YU said it will provide a mix of face-to-face and non-face-to-face classes in the second semester of 2020. However, COVID-19 spreads again and poses a risk, it turns into non–face–to-face encounters until October 17th. The criteria for the second semester grades were set by relative evaluation.
