Grade inflation
Higher education

Awards by class
First (1)
%'age
Upper Second (2.1)
%'age
Undivided + Lower Second (2.2)
%'age
1994
~7937
8.4
~38077
40.3
~26361
27.9
1995
16687
7.04
95824
40.42
82898
34.97
1996
17352
6.86
103049
40.76
89533
35.41
1997
18154
7.03
105538
40.87
91534
35.45
1998
19613
7.44
109409
41.50
90805
34.44
1999
20852
8.37
112504
45.14
94036
37.73
2000
21920
8.66
114660
45.31
91770
36.26
2001
24095
8.77
118465
43.14
89750
32.68
2002
26455
9.67
121240
44.31
86650
31.67
2003
28635
10.96
123795
47.37
88260
33.77
2004
30175
11.2
127935
47.5
90470
33.59
2005
32465
11.59
132770
47.4
92605
33.06
2006
34825
12.04
137235
47.46
94265
32.6
2007
40260
12.52
149805
46.59
103340
32.14
2008
41150
13.34
148265
48.05
95145
30.84
2009
43125
13.99
148360
48.12
93030
30.17
2010
46830
14.4
156950
48.26
96970
29.82
2011
53210
15.5
166095
48.38
99210
28.9
2012
61605
15.76
178425
45.63
100310
25.66
2013
69625
17.24
187365
46.40
98145
24.30
2014
79435
18.83
198405
47.02
96030
22.76

Question: How did the proportion of second class honors awarded change between 1995 and 2011?
Answer: Between 1995 and 2011, the grade inflation proportion of upper second class awarded for first degree courses increased from 40.42% to 48.38%, whilst lower second class honours dropped from 34.97% to 28.9%.