Which term describes prioritizing grades over actual learning?

The term that best describes prioritizing grades over actual learning is "grade chasing." This concept refers to a focus on attaining high marks as the primary goal of academic pursuits, often at the expense of deeper understanding and engagement with the material. Students who engage in grade chasing may study primarily for the purpose of achieving specific grades, rather than for the sake of learning or intellectual growth.

By focusing solely on grades, students might resort to strategies that maximize their scores without truly comprehending the content, which can lead to a superficial grasp of the subject matter. This phenomenon can undermine the educational experience and diminish the value of learning itself, as it shifts the focus from knowledge acquisition to the attainment of numerical evaluation.

In contrast, effort maximization emphasizes dedicating significant effort in different areas of learning and skill development but does not necessarily equate to prioritizing grades. Intrinsic motivation relates to an inner drive to learn for personal satisfaction and interest, which is the opposite of grade chasing. Skill acquisition focuses on learning specific competencies or abilities, which again can exist independently from the pursuit of grades. Thus, grade chasing most accurately captures the scenario of prioritizing grades over actual learning.