Grade Inflation

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:45 pm

by Ryandmitri » Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:00 am
Hi David,

Sorry to re-open this discussion but I have some doubts. I don't have enough information on the GPA system so I may be completely off the point here.

From what I understand (and my understanding is clarified in this passage), a common body does not calculate the GPA of all colleges ( students in all colleges). Every college marks the students' papers using a differnet yardstick and therefore the GPAs will be different. My point is that in option 'C', we are assuming that other colleges will know that this particular college has increased the GPA's by half a point and I find it difficult to choose this option because I feel that the other colleges have no way of knowing that the college in question has raised the students' GPAs

If I go for a job interview with a GPA which has been artificially raised, then my chances of geting that job take a beating. The article mentions that "In this difficult job market it is important to give our students every opportunity for success" so even if a " few" students are hampered by the college's decision then the plan isn't successful.

As I said, my understanding of how the GPA works and hence my explanation might be flawed. Awaiting your comments.

Regards.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2193
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:30 pm
Location: Vermont and Boston, MA
Thanked: 1186 times
Followed by:512 members
GMAT Score:770

by David@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:29 pm
You are certainly not off-point.

You can see that others have wanted to help edit this as well. Did you read Jaymw's suggestion to change the "may" in choice (C) to "will." This would certainly make that the undisputed right answer since if the other colleges WILL raise their GPAs as well then the plan would fail certainly.

I agree with what you say about the statement you highlighted in bold. This would mean that choice D does some weakening as well since we want "every opportunity." You are definitely on point there.

This is why official GMAT questions are edited constantly. I have even seen them edited between editions of the OG books so that even a retired GMAT question can still be improved (I am thinking specifically of the Quant question about Fahrenheit and Celsius on the thermometer).

So that is another small change to be made! Thanks!!!!
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:45 pm

by Ryandmitri » Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:42 pm
Thanks a lot for your prompt reply. Also, in my earlier post, I wrote " I don't have enough information on the GPA system so I may be completely off the point here. " In this particular sentence can I write " information about the the GPA system?. Also can I use might instead of may in that same sentence? Moreover were there any tense errors in that particular post.

Thanks a lot for your time.[/b]