RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 High-Stakes Grades and Student Behavior
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0718-9620R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.56.3.0718-9620R2
A1 Ulrik Hvidman
A1 Hans Henrik Sievertsen
YR 2019
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2019/09/10/jhr.56.3.0718-9620R2.abstract
AB High-stakes exams carry important consequences for the prospects of reaching university. This study examines whether the incentives associated with exam grades affect educational investments. Exploiting a reform-induced recoding of high school students’ grade point average, we identify the effect of high-stakes grades on student behavior. The results show that students who were downgraded by the recoding performed better on subsequent assessments. The increase in academic performance in high school translated into an increased likelihood of university enrollment. As the recoding did not convey information about actual performance, these results emphasize that incentives are important in understanding students’ educational investments.