A new grading system will be introduced in Iceland for 10th grade final marks in spring 2027, announced by government authorities, switching from letter grades to a numeric scale ranging from 4 to 10. Vísir and RÚV have reported that the change will affect the evaluation of students finishing compulsory education across the country.
The reform aims to make grades clearer and more consistent and to promote greater equality between students, according to the minister responsible for education. However, respondents in the consultation process, cited by RÚV, Vísir, and mbl.is, say they do not believe the new system will achieve these aims.
Teachers have raised significant concerns about the rollout, noting that the new numeric categories are still poorly defined. Some educators told RÚV that the reform is being rushed at the expense of both students and teachers, with a need for policy and classroom practice to be properly aligned before implementing such a change, as emphasized by Vísir.
Nearly all stakeholders who responded to the added provision on grading scales in the national curriculum expressed dissatisfaction with how the reform is being executed, according to mbl.is. Details on the exact legal wording of the new provision have not yet been disclosed.
Sources
- Vísir (first reported) in Icelandic
- RÚV in Icelandic
- mbl.is in Icelandic
