National tests and grade disparities between boys and girls

Girls outperform boys in education systems throughout the Western world. This is reflected both in academic performance at different stages of education and in substantial gender gaps in the completion of higher education. In Sweden, final grades from compulsory school are strongly associated with subsequent educational attainment. Grade differences between boys and girls are substantial, and understanding their underlying causes is important.

This project investigates whether providing information about students’ academic performance through national standardized tests affects the gender gap in grades. The empirical analysis draws on Swedish administrative data containing national test scores and teacher-assigned grades at the subject level in grades 6 and 9, as well as information on upper secondary school choices and participation in higher education. A central part of the analysis exploits the fact that the Swedish National Agency for Education randomly assigns different subjects to different schools for national testing in grade 9. This provides an opportunity to examine how national testing affects teachers’ grading decisions and the gender gap in teacher-assigned grades.

Project leader

Olof Åslund

Other project participants

Raoul van Maarseveen (Köln)

Per-Anders Edin (NEK UU)