<p>The issue identified in the link two mules posted to the Pomona College newspaper is this: How can the very best students… those that clearly differentiate themselves from the other 90-95% of the students in a class, by virtue of their intelligence, creativity… even dedication to the work… be identified when they, along with another 35-40% of the class, receive the identical mark of A?</p>
<p>I think it’s fine… I was never top 10% at the collegiate level, and truth be told <em>most</em> employers and grad schools don’t require or care about top 5-10%, but if I WERE top 5-10%, I’d want that to be reflected on my transcript. At some point, if truly outstanding work is merged in grading with merely “fine work”, this will serve as a disincentive to some students who would work just that much harder, make the extra emotional and time commitment to step back to solve a problem from a slightly different angle of approach, because they will not be formally rewarded for such extra special work.</p>