Glitch 'n' Grade -UK Grading system case, 2020-
Exams are an important part of students’ lives, especially in countries where a single grade can shape their whole future. I recently came across a case involving exam and AI that must feel like a nightmare, especially for hard‑working students.
In 2020, the UK tried to grade exams with computer‑based grading system. Because students couldn’t attend their exams in person during that time (it was the covid pandemic era), the government relied on a system that mixed mock exam scores with each school’s past performance. It was supposed to keep things “fair”, but in reality, it pushed thousands of students down the success ladder. Nearly 40% of grades were lowered, and more negative impacts fell on students from less wealthy areas, students from places like the state schools. Some lost their university places overnight, not because of their own work, but because their school didn’t have the “right” historical data.
Students immediately protested across the country, making the government eventually abandon the system and return to evaluating by teachers, but the damage was already done; many students were left unsure and waiting if they still had admissions to the universities they worked all their lives for.
This case shows that more and more people are relying on AI for life‑changing decisions. As I’ve said in other blog entries, depending entirely on AI in critical situations or in ways that harm fairness isn’t acceptable. When things go wrong, you can’t hand off responsibility to a system that carries no liability for the consequences. It's important to set clear limits on how we use AI, depending on the goals.
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