The Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University has approved a policy to limit the distribution of 'A' grades for undergraduate students to mitigate systemic grade inflation.

哈佛大學文理學院已通過一項政策，限制大學部學生獲得 'A' 等級的比例，以緩解系統性的成績膨脹。

The institutional impetus for this reform stems from an October 2025 internal report indicating that the grading apparatus was failing its primary evaluative functions. Data revealed that over 60% of undergraduate grades had shifted into the 'A' range, a significant increase from the 25% observed two decades prior. Proponents of the measure, including Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh and Professor Steven Pinker, contend that the prevalence of high marks has eroded the signaling value of academic transcripts for employers and postgraduate institutions. This trend mirrors a broader national trajectory, with the U.S. Department of Education noting a 16% increase in grade-point averages across four-year public and nonprofit colleges between 1990 and 2020.

此次改革的制度動力源於 2025 年 10 月的一份內部報告，指出評分機制已無法發揮其主要的評估功能。數據顯示，超過 60% 的大學部成績已轉向 'A' 等級，較二十年前觀察到的 25% 大幅增加。該措施的支持者，包括大學部教育院長 Amanda Claybaugh 和 Steven Pinker 教授，主張高分的普遍化已削弱了學術成績單對雇主及研究生機構的信號價值。這一趨勢反映了更廣泛的國家軌跡，美國教育部指出，1990 年至 2020 年間，四年制公立及非營利大學的平均積點 (GPA) 增加了 16%。

Effective autumn 2027, the university will implement a '20 plus four' formula, restricting 'A' grades to 20% of a class's population plus four additional students. While 'A-minus' and other letter grades remain unrestricted, the faculty also ratified a transition toward average percentile rank over grade-point average for the determination of honors and awards. Notably, a proposal to allow courses to bypass these caps via a 'satisfactory/unsatisfactory' system with an 'SAT+' designation was rejected.

自 2027 年秋季起，大學將實施「20 加 4」公式，將 'A' 等級限制在一個班級人數的 20% 加上額外四名學生。雖然 'A-minus' 和其他字母等級仍不受限，但教授會也批准將決定榮譽與獎項的標準從平均積點 (GPA) 轉向平均百分比排名。值得注意的是，一項允許課程透過標記為 'SAT+' 的「滿意/不滿意」系統來繞過這些上限的建議被否決了。

Stakeholder reception remains bifurcated. While some external academics characterize the move as a victory for pedagogical standards, internal opposition was substantial; approximately 85% of surveyed students expressed disapproval. Certain faculty members further posited that such constraints might diminish intellectual risk-taking and infringe upon instructional autonomy. The policy is scheduled for a formal review following a three-year implementation period.

利害關係人的反應分歧。雖然部分外部學者將此舉視為教學標準的勝利，但內部反對聲音強烈；約 85% 的受訪學生表示不贊成。部分教職員進一步認為，此類限制可能會減少對知識探索的冒險精神，並侵犯教學自主權。該政策預計在實施三年後進行正式審查。

Harvard University will initiate a capped grading system in 2027 to restore the perceived integrity of its academic evaluations.

哈佛大學將於 2027 年啟動上限評分制度，以恢復其學術評估被認知的完整性。