Effort grades can definitely motivate students, encouraging participation, persistence, and a positive attitude toward learning. However, I’ve found that combining effort with achievement grades can sometimes give a misleading picture of what a student actually knows or can do. Over time, I’ve started keeping effort, such as participation, persistence, and engagement, separate from academic scores. This approach makes grading more transparent and fair, so students understand exactly what they’ve mastered and where they still need growth (Chowdhury, 2019). I’ve seen students earn high effort points while still struggling with academic content. Separating effort from achievement clarifies expectations, helps students focus on actual learning goals, and allows me to provide more targeted support where it’s needed.