Do universities maintain common standards in awarding first degrees with distinction? The case of Israel

This article investigates the extent to which there exist differences in standards for awarding first degrees with distinction amongst universities in Israel (as measured by the percentage of total graduates each year that receive a distinction). Based upon an analysis of annual data for the period 1979-1983, considerable diversity was found in the tendency to award first degrees with distinction between and within universities and faculties, and between the major subject department of the social science faculty, selected for more detailed analysis. This heterogeneity parallels that reported in Nevin's work relating to the situation current at universities in the United Kingdom nearly two decades ago.