Why is there no E in the Grading System?

The absence of the letter E in grading systems is a topic that often raises questions. In many educational institutions, an E is not used to denote failing grades, but rather an F is utilized. However, there are historical and cultural reasons for this.

College Grading Systems

In some colleges, particularly in the United States, E is actually used as a failing grade in place of the more customary F. This is in contrast to other grading systems where the grade is defined as 65 instead of 60. For example, in my college, E is defined as a 65, marking it as a failing grade.

Global Grading Systems

Around the world, different countries have different ways of using letter grades in the classroom. Some include an additional failing grade, whereas others do not. In the U.S., for instance, anything below a D is generally considered a failing grade, making the common grading scale from A to F. The use of the letter E as a grade in some regions is less common, but not unheard of.

The exclusion of the letter E is because it is often associated with excellent work, just like the letter A denotes an excellent grade. This confusion arose from historical reasons, particularly in the 1930s when the letter E was eliminated in U.S. college systems due to its potential to be mistaken for "excellent." Instead, F was used to clearly represent "failure."

Historical Context

During my time as a graduate student at Columbia University in the early 1970s, the grading system did use E for Honors. There were grades like H for Honors, P for Pass, and HP for High Pass. F still stood for Fail. The elimination of E went hand in hand with the need to ensure the meaning of the grades was clear and unambiguous to students, parents, and educational administrators.

Regional Variations

It's interesting to note that in some regional systems, the letter E can be used. For instance, in some places in the southern United States, E is used as a failing grade to avoid confusion with "excellent." The same was true in the 1950s when I was in elementary school. In some places, E stood for "excellent," causing confusion among parents. F was ultimately chosen to clearly denote failure, as it was less likely to be misconstrued.

The decision to exclude or include the letter E in grading systems often stems from a desire to avoid confusion about the meaning of the grades. The letter F, with its clear 'F' for 'Fail,' has become the standard in the U.S. and many other countries. However, the use of other letters, including E, can vary based on regional educational practices and historical contexts.

Conclusion

The exclusion of the letter E in grading systems is a fascinating aspect of educational practice. While it may seem redundant given that anything below a D is a failing grade, historical and regional reasons help explain its absence. Understanding the history and context of grading systems can provide valuable insights into the nuances of educational assessment.