"Grade inflation" in Degrees awarded

Universities are facing investigations over the issue of grade inflation, the head of the Office for Students told a parliamentary committee. He said that the proportion of students achieving first-class degrees rose from 15.7% in 2011 to 37.9% in 2021, when universities were encouraged to be generous because of the negative effects of Covid. Last year, the proportion fell to about 32% but was still higher than the 30% figure from 2019. Universities have said they intend to rein in the number of firsts given and return them to pre-pandemic levels.