Why is the pass mark 50%?

I was discussing my latest job situation with Prue yesterday when an analogy was made to going into an exam knowing you can not fail the subject. I’m not sure the analogy was great, nor do I understand what made me ask this question, but here it is: Why is the pass mark 50%? Why is a majority 50% + 1?

Given we have a federal election later this year, I have been looking into various policies on issues I have some opinion on. Particularly relevant to this post is the issue of education. While nothing in politics is ever guaranteed there are certain promises and policies on reforming the state based curricula into something that conforms to a national standard. I personally don’t think the reforms go far enough but I understand the concept of baby steps.

So the education curricula maybe be reformed, but this really begs the question: If as a country we are going to set a standard set of knowledge units for each subject; and if a student is able to demonstrate knowledge of half of these units; we will say they understand* the subject: Is that really such a great idea? Personally I would prefer that my car mechanic understands something more than 85% about cars; or the IT departments desktop administrator should know about all versions of the operating system (Windows or OS X or Linux depending) not just, for example, Windows 98. You can probably come up with many of your own analogies.

* Lets face it P’s get degrees: As a general rule, as far as people are concerned, to pass is to understand.

Lets take the concept of obtaining a drivers license. While it might be far too easy to renew a drivers license, should retest people, it is by no means easy to obtain a drivers license. You need to demonstrate a high level of competence: well above 85%!!!

Perhaps education should be the same: to pass requires 70%. At which point the student has demonstrated a mastery of the basic and some complex elements of the subject. Better yet would be a sliding scale depending on the subject matter. If someone is studying math for society, so they can count their pennies, I don’t feel too worried about them getting 85% to pass. On the other hand if someone is studying tertiary physics (or medicine, or engineering, or law), where there is a definite practical component, and a high level of responsibility, then yes I think it is fair they demonstrate a high level of competency to pass. I recognise that the education reforms only apply to primary and secondary levels, I’ve deliberately used tertiary to over state the point.

Set the pass mark to 70%: mmm baby steps lets say 65%.