Grade inflation was higher for girls than for boys. Blacks had the most grade inflation with whites second. Hispanics and “others” experienced less grade inflation.

During the pandemic, many colleges and universities went “test optional” or decided not to consider test scores. Without test scores, admissions relies more heavily on grades. In warning that grades are unreliable measures of competence, ACT is acting in its own self-interest. But that doesn’t make the warning false.

[One has to wonder whether this grade inflation isn’t deliberate. Admissions offices want more demand, even from students who may not be good enough to succeed, because they want the massive subsidies via student loans that feed them. Lower test scores would pinch off the supply, right? The solution: stop using test scores and go solely on the inflated grades assigned by K-12 educator colleagues. Sounds like a pretty good racket to me. — Ed]