Proficiency, Not Points: The Simple Shift to Growth-Based Grading!

Grading often feels like a mountain of stress, doesn't it? Sorting through papers, assigning percentages, and justifying every point can make you question whether your students are truly learning—or just chasing a grade. If you’ve ever felt that way, it’s time to rethink grading entirely. Proficiency-based grading is a refreshing approach that prioritizes what students can do with the language rather than what they can memorize. It reflects real growth, not just numbers, and it’s easier than you might think to get started.

This article will guide you step-by-step through the process of ditching points and embracing proficiency-based grading. We’ll break down why it works, how to design assessments that align with proficiency, and concrete strategies for implementation that will give you and your students quick wins.

Why Proficiency-Based Grading Reflects Real Learning

Grading traditionally revolves around percentages and averages, which often fail to show what students have learned. With proficiency-based grading, the focus shifts to descriptors of skills that clearly reflect a student’s ability to use the language in meaningful contexts.

Quick Wins for Reflecting Real Learning:

1. Focus on Proficiency Descriptors, Not Percentages
   Instead of assigning a number, use clear labels like “Novice High” or “Intermediate Low” to show where students are on their proficiency journey. These terms may sound formal, but they represent specific abilities, such as “can describe basic personal information” or “can narrate a story in past tense.”
2. Anchor Assessments in Proficiency Scales
   Familiarize yourself with ACTFL (or CEFR) standards to define each proficiency level. Use these as a foundation for your grading system. For example, instead of giving 7/10 on a speaking task, indicate whether the student demonstrated “Intermediate Low” abilities by stringing sentences together or fell back to “Novice High” by relying on single words.
3. Highlight Growth Over Time
   Show students how far they’ve come by comparing their current proficiency level with where they started. Use rubrics that track progress, such as growth from "can label" to "can describe" vocabulary in context. Students will feel motivated by their improvement rather than discouraged by a less-than-perfect score.

Designing Assessments That Measure Proficiency

Traditional assessments often prioritize grammar and vocabulary memorization, which don’t translate directly into real-world communication skills. To align with proficiency-based grading, your assessments need to measure what students can actually do with the language.

Quick Wins for Creating Proficiency-Based Assessments:

1. Focus on Skill-Based Tasks
   Design assessments that reflect real-life communication. For example, instead of a vocabulary quiz, have students order food from a pretend restaurant or describe their weekend plans in writing.
2. Use Rubrics That Align with Proficiency Levels
   Create rubrics for each task with clear descriptors for proficiency levels. A speaking rubric might include criteria like “uses basic sentences with some errors” (Novice High) versus “uses connected sentences with minor errors” (Intermediate Low).
3. Incorporate Formative Assessments
   Use quick, low-stakes activities like “one-minute writes” or oral check-ins to measure progress. For instance, ask students to describe an image in 30 seconds and note whether they use phrases or full sentences. These mini-assessments build proficiency and provide valuable data without the pressure of a formal grade.

Transitioning Away from Numerical Grades

Making the shift from numbers to descriptors can feel overwhelming at first, but breaking it into manageable steps makes it much easier. The goal is to create a system that reflects mastery rather than memorization and keeps the focus on growth.

Quick Wins for Transitioning to Descriptors:

1. Replace Tests with Portfolios
   Have students build a portfolio of their work throughout the semester, including written samples, audio recordings, and project-based tasks. Portfolios let you and your students track their progress over time.
2. Provide Narrative Feedback Instead of Scores
   After each task, give written or verbal feedback highlighting what the student can do and their next steps. For example: “You successfully used the present tense to describe your favorite food. Next, try adding more details with adjectives.”
3. Adopt Standards-Based Grading Categories
   Replace traditional grades with categories like “Speaking,” “Listening,” “Reading,” and “Writing,” each tied to proficiency levels. This method shows students their strengths and areas for growth without reducing their abilities to a single number.

Communicating the Change to Students and Parents

Switching to proficiency-based grading isn’t just a shift for you—it’s a shift for students and their families. Clear communication is key to building buy-in and ensuring a smooth transition.

Quick Wins for Communicating the Change:

1. Use Visuals to Explain Proficiency Levels
   Create a chart or infographic that shows what each proficiency level means and the skills associated with it. For example, “Novice Mid” might be described as “can use memorized phrases” while “Intermediate Low” is “can string simple sentences together.”
2. Host an Introduction Session
   Invite students and parents to a short meeting where you explain the new grading system with examples. Show how this approach highlights growth and supports meaningful learning.
3. Share Progress Reports Regularly
   Instead of grades, send progress updates that include descriptors of what students have mastered and their next goals. For example: “Emma is now consistently speaking in full sentences and should focus on using connectors like ‘and’ or ‘because’ to expand her ideas.”

Making the Shift Seamless for Teachers

If the thought of overhauling your grading system feels daunting, take heart: it doesn’t have to happen all at once. Start small, lean on helpful tools, and collaborate with others to ease the transition.

Quick Wins for a Smooth Transition:

1. Start with One Unit or Skill
   Focus on implementing proficiency-based grading for one area, such as speaking. This gives you a chance to practice without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Use Digital Tools for Evidence Collection
   Platforms like Seesaw or Google Classroom allow students to upload recordings, written work, or photos of projects. These digital portfolios make tracking growth easier.
3. Collaborate with Colleagues
   Partner with other teachers to align your rubrics and share resources. If you’re part of a team, working together on this shift can lighten the load and create consistency for students.

Conclusion: A Grading Revolution Starts with You

Proficiency-based grading isn’t just about changing how you grade—it’s about changing how you view student success. By focusing on what students can do and tracking their growth over time, you’re empowering them to see language learning as a journey, not a race for points. The best part? Implementing this system can be simpler than you think with the strategies we’ve shared.

Ready to take your grading skills to the next level? Join us at the Assessment Academy for a 10-part series designed to help you build a standards-based gradebook, create proficiency-based assessments, and transform the way you grade. Together, we’ll make grading for growth your new classroom superpower. Sign up now at https://imim.us/academy.

The journey to proficiency starts here—one descriptor at a time.

Key Takeaways

1. Focus on What Students Can Do, Not What They Memorize

• Proficiency-based grading shifts the emphasis from numerical scores to skill-based descriptors, such as "Novice High" or "Intermediate Low," which reflect real language abilities. This approach provides meaningful feedback and tracks growth over time.

2. Design Assessments That Measure Real-Life Communication

• Move away from traditional tests and create skill-based tasks that simulate real-world language use, like describing an event or ordering food in a target language. Use rubrics aligned with proficiency levels to evaluate performance meaningfully.

3. Replace Numbers with Narrative Feedback and Portfolios

• Ditch numerical grades in favor of narrative feedback that highlights student strengths and areas for improvement. Use portfolios to collect evidence of growth, including writing samples, audio recordings, and other artifacts that demonstrate proficiency.

4. Communicate Clearly with Students and Parents

• Use visuals and plain language to explain proficiency levels and grading shifts. Host introductory sessions to address questions and provide regular progress updates with actionable feedback instead of percentages.

5. Start Small and Leverage Tools for a Smooth Transition

• Begin by applying proficiency-based grading to one unit or skill area. Use digital tools like Seesaw or Google Classroom to track student work and collaborate with colleagues to share resources and ensure consistency.