Article Summary

Name: Nathanael Narendra Aghni
Class: Grade 12

In his essay, organizational psychologist Adam Grant argues that effort alone should not determine a student’s grade. He believes teachers should assess students based on their mastery of the material, not merely the amount of effort invested. Grant dismisses the idea of giving an “A for effort,” asserting instead that “high marks are for excellence, not grit.”

I completely agree with his perspective. While effort is important, it should not outweigh actual understanding and performance. Awarding high grades solely based on effort can be unfair to students who have truly mastered the content. In the real world, outcomes often matter more than effort—jobs and responsibilities depend on competence, not just hard work. Education should mirror this reality to prepare students effectively for life beyond the classroom.

Source:
Grant, Adam. “What Straight-A Students Get Wrong.” The New York Times, December 8, 2018.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/08/opinion/sunday/grades-effort-learning.html