The ChatGPT era prompts a boom in A-graded coursework
TL;DR
Since ChatGPT launched in 2022, top grades have surged in AI-friendly subjects: a UC Berkeley study finds “excellent” marks up 30% in English composition and coding classes, while sculpture and lab courses see no shift. The striking part isn’t A-minus students bumping to A-plus — it’s C-students suddenly landing on A-level. Universities worry that diplomas may increasingly reflect AI fluency rather than actual subject knowledge.
Nauti's Take
The UC Berkeley data finally puts substance under a long-running gut feeling: a 30% jump in top grades in AI-friendly subjects is a clear signal and a chance for universities to rework curricula and exam formats. The flip side: if C-students now write A papers, diplomas lose signal value, and employers should expect graduates who are AI-fluent rather than subject-experts.
Opportunity for educators, risk for anyone still relying on grades.
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