Ec 10 To Reduce Number of Test Graders

The Unit Test Program of Social Analysis 10: “Principles of Economics” will cut the number of test graders next year in an effort to increase accountability and cost-effectiveness, according to Unit Test Coordinator Thomas E. Wei.

In an e-mail sent Wednesday to test graders for the course (commonly referred to as “Ec 10”), Wei wrote that the Unit Test program “will undergo significant reforms” next semester, including reducing the number of graders, enhancing channels for feedback, and rewarding grading performance with monetary bonuses.

Wei said that the reduction in the number of test graders was not financially motivated. Although there will be fewer graders, Wei said the move actually will be “cost-neutral” since each grader will be required to work more hours, leaving the total number of paid hours constant. He estimated that the program will hire about 50 students this upcoming fall, a drop from the 67 students hired at the beginning of last year.

Each semester in the course, 10 unit tests are given, with each test cycle lasting eight days. Each test grader is required to work two nights of the test cycle, during which they discuss answers with students and give a pass or incomplete grade. Depending on the number of students taking the test that night, the grading process could vary from being a one-on-one conversation between a grader and a student to a group session involving multiple students.

The reduction seeks to increase accountability and alleviate “enormous” variability among graders, said Wei, who explained that because the tests’ format is free response, the grade and quality of feedback largely depends on the individual grader. While some graders are very comprehensive and spend a long time with students, others are less committed, said Wei.

Wei said he also hoped the reduction in test graders would lead to greater selectivity in the program, since only the graders who are devoted will decide to commit to the longer hours.

Wei said that the reforms came about as a result of ongoing scrutiny, as well as feedback from students, test graders, and course staff.

Linda Ge ’11, who was a unit test grader this year and will be a supervisor in the program next year, said she supported the changes being implemented, since grader variability has been an issue in the past.

“Some graders are willing to put in more effort, but others will just rush through,” Ge said. “Hopefully, hiring fewer workers will make sure that the graders are more willing to work hard.”

Because each grader will be expected to work more nights, the number of students per grader will remain the same, said Ge.

Though graders said they thought the reforms were well-intentioned, some expressed concern over the staff reduction.

“I just hope I’m hired next year,” said current test grader Eliza A. Lehner ’11.

—Staff writer Liyun Jin can be reached at ljin@fas.harvard.edu.