When Grades Stop Meaning Anything

Postedabout 2 months agoActiveabout 2 months ago

paulpauper

12 points

9 comments

theargumentmag.comOtherstory

skepticalnegative

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40/100

EducationGradingMath Literacy

Key topics

Education

Grading

Math Literacy

An article argues that grades have lost their meaning, and HN commenters discuss the implications, sharing personal anecdotes and expressing skepticism about students' math abilities.

Snapshot generated from the HN discussion

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01Story posted
Nov 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM EST
about 2 months ago
Step 01
02First comment
Nov 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM EST
21m after posting
Step 02
03Peak activity
4 comments in 0-1h
Hottest window of the conversation
Step 03
04Latest activity
Nov 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM EST
about 2 months ago
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Discussion (9 comments)

Showing 6 comments of 9

tonetegeatinst

about 2 months ago

1 reply

I'm taking upper level classes, and had an issue where the professor asked me to recall some information from an old math class. I had to be honest with him, so I told him straight up in front of the class: "I took the class and passed it, my passing of a class is not mean I actually remember or understand what was taught. While I do have an interest in math, I struggle with it and forget what I don't regularly practice. I can't afford to constantly retake classes, and as such I have sacrificed my ability to know X subject in math in exchange for the passing grade I got"

I can't be regularly be practicing all levels of math and reviewing on top of my regular class schedules and work....I literally don't have the time, mental energy, or ability to even remember any of this stuff.

astroflection

about 2 months ago

1 reply

Regurgitation ≠ learning

Regurgitation involves short term memory and micmicking. It does not build new neural connections.

Learning involves longer term memory, synthesis of new perspectives(in the learner), and integration of knowledge across multiple domains. Learning is the building of new neural connections.

I posit that you did not actually learn how to learn and thus just regurgitated your way through math.

vacuity

about 2 months ago

I agree that learning is what is important, but I wouldn't assume that GP did not make an effort to learn. Learning an entire field is difficult, and small hints may be all that's needed to draw upon one's learning.

robot-wrangler

about 2 months ago

1 reply

Given the link to the pdf on the .edu domain clearly there is a problem and it is bad. But college students that cannot do literally count-on-your-fingers type of math? I can't believe that's actually real.. surely the test is long and they did not reach the question or there is a language barrier.

nis0s

about 2 months ago

Some people have cognitive issues like short- and long-term memory defects due to any number of reasons, which can affect such mental ability. It may even reflect in their IQ scores to some degree, for example if they would have scored a 125, they might score 115.

everybodyknows

about 2 months ago

Also today:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45979637

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ID: 45983946Type: storyLast synced: 11/22/2025, 10:05:08 AM

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