Grading System Disadvantages Science and Technology Students, Threatening Sweden's STEM Goals

A recent report by Sveriges Ingenjörer reveals that students enrolled in Sweden's natural sciences and technology high school programs consistently receive lower final grades compared to their peers in social sciences, economics, or arts programs. This disparity discourages high-achieving students from pursuing STEM tracks, despite the government’s goal to increase enrollment in these programs from 21% to 25% by 2035. The analysis, which examined around 200,000 student records, showed that a student entering with average grades can expect a significantly higher final grade by choosing social sciences instead of science or technical programs. For example, a student with an average C grade in primary school could graduate 0.7 points higher in social sciences than in natural sciences.

Johan Kreicbergs, social policy chief at Sveriges Ingenjörer, points out that this grading imbalance forces students into strategic choices aiming at better grades rather than their interest or the nation's technology ambitions. The current grading system unfairly penalizes those choosing STEM paths, risking Sweden's status as a technology nation.

To counteract this trend, the report suggests reforms such as awarding extra merit points for natural sciences and technology when applying to higher education, maintaining bonus points for advanced mathematics, and weighting grades in mathematics and physics more heavily. These measures aim to encourage more students to pursue STEM education aligned with national workforce needs.