Grade inflation (Swedish: betygsinflation) means that grades rise over time without students' actual knowledge increasing to the same extent. The phenomenon has been documented in Sweden by Skolverket and the Swedish National Audit Office (Riksrevisionen), among others.
Causes
In the Swedish system, each teacher awards grades based on the curriculum's knowledge requirements. Without external oversight, grading can be influenced by competition between schools (both municipal and independent), pressure from students and parents, and ambiguous knowledge requirements. Free school choice can intensify incentives to award high grades in order to retain students.
How is grade inflation measured?
A common method is to compare final grades with results on national tests. If final grades are consistently higher than test grades, it suggests inflation. The Swedish Schools Inspectorate reviews discrepancies as part of its oversight.