I would guess that the Internet is to blame for the rampant grade inflation we have seen at University level... 80% getting 2:1s or 1st's must lie there surely?
Some possible points....
Maybe because students have exceptionally easy access to high quality information, and it is becoming harder for academics to set plausible tasks.... That are still challenging?
Or (scandal inbound) academics have become at their core lazy and are more concerned with their KPI and not being bothered. Simply passing people requires less work after all and is a government (or was) target of everyone basically achieving a degree....Academics in Europe 😅 do have much greater job security irregardless of whether their students pass.
Or Academics maybe dreading what a poor grade does to a student's future?
Financial pressure....
Let's think about some other nations... Such as Germany... Degree attainment within "regel studenzeit" is poor as this graph below shows:
Only about 30% graduate on time within the normal three year window (regel studienzeit). (on the chart everything below Bachelor is some form of degree, like arts, education etc).
While this is annoying... It's affordable...An extra year only costs roughly €700 plus living costs.
Well, an extra year in England.... 😂
This could actually motivate students and give a reason of why they have little interest in diddling.
Finally, young people are being taught better at A level to the point university is no longer a struggle?
What do you guy's think.... And how best to solve it.
My suggestion would be to set hard caps...
20% can achieve a first...
40% can achieve a 2:1....
No caps on lower marks.
If these ends up increasing the 2:2 degree's awarded... That might actually solve the issue.
But that's just one suggestion....