Is Achieving an ‘A’ For Every Assignment Possible?

In high school, there is no doubt that demands are high; every student aims and strives for grades that satisfy them. In most cases, students in grades 9 and 10 are adapting to high school and tend to get relatively lower scores due to the fact that they are still getting used to the rigor and demands of high school. Students in grades 11 and 12 tend to be more used to the rigor; however, they are more focused on getting the best possible grades, as they are worrying about college applications and impressing their dream school. Although every student wants an A all the time, is this something that is really realistic? Is the teacher really bound to give them an A for every single assignment?

Answering the questions above aren’t simple, as many different factors play into whether or not the student is bound to receive an A. The type of assignment and the students’ abilities are the main factors that are to be considered. An example being a test. Every student, if they are willing to, is capable of sitting at their desk for 10 hours to study for an upcoming test; however, if the student isn’t a good test taker, is it really possible for them to get an A? The same applies to an oral assessment or, in IB, an IOC. If a non-native English speaker is presenting their ideas and has perfect ideas, their level of English may be the reason they don’t get top marks. Although they tried hard, what they delivered may have not fully hit the requirements of the rubric.

The teachers grading habits are also to be accounted for in the ability to get top marks. Some teachers who grade strictly don’t believe in ever giving out A’s as they believe there is always room for improvement. Recalling from personal experience, I have come across classes where, despite how hard I work, it is near impossible to get an A (A+) just because the teacher always finds something I could have done better. Some teachers believe in rewarding students for their efforts and therefore it is less of a challenge to receive an A as the efforts of the student is accounted for just as much as the content of their work. Ellie, a new sophomore at AISG, mentioned that she believes that “if you pick classes that you excel at and try very hard” it is realistic to attain A’s. Ellie’s comment was agreed with by the principle of Elementary School, Ms Lopukhin. She also mentioned that “grades aren’t the most important component in education,” and that one’s education should instead focus on furthering one’s knowledge and trying their best. The purpose of school is to learn and exceed personal expectations; therefore, grades aren’t all that matter. This is a helpful note for students in general to remember.

Although being awarded an A is something positive for any student, it is to be remembered that it is not the most important thing in school. In some cases, grades are thought too highly of and end up restricting students from learning just for the fun of it. In reality, achieving an A for every single assignment is rarely seen; but it is impressive. A tip for every high school student reading this article. Yes, grades are important and do play a role in determining where you go to college and the immediate future; however, remember to enjoy high school for what it is. Learn because you want to learn, not just because you want an A.