grader

Grader is a term with several related meanings in education, computing, and construction.

In education, a grader is a person who evaluates student work and assigns a grade. Graders may be teachers, teaching assistants, or examiners who apply a rubric or set criteria to determine marks. Some courses also rely on automated or semi-automated grading processes to improve consistency and reduce workload, while still allowing human review in ambiguous cases.

In computing and online education, an automated grader or grading script is a program that assesses submissions against predefined criteria or test cases. In programming courses and competitive programming, graders run student code against a suite of inputs, compare outputs to expected results, and assign scores. They may provide immediate feedback, support multiple programming languages, and handle partial credit or special cases. Grading systems strive for objectivity but can be influenced by the design of tests and rubrics.

In heavy machinery and road construction, a grader—often called a motor grader or road grader—is a large, wheeled machine equipped with a long adjustable blade. It is used to level, flatten, and finish surfaces such as roads, foundations, and large outdoor areas. Operators control the blade angle, tilt, and height to shape the ground, with the machine providing precision and efficiency in grading and profiled surfaces.

Across contexts, grading involves evaluation or shaping against a defined standard, whether in assessing performance, validating solutions, or smoothing terrain.