Do academic marks accurately measure intelligence?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Do academic marks accurately measure intelligence?". Your opponent's style: 7th grader

DEBATE COMPETITION:- In the early winter of 1854, a seven-year-old boy named Thomas Edison struggled at school, where his teachers felt he did not fit the traditional classroom. It is rumoured that his teacher once allied him "addled"which he overheard. Concerned about his progress, his mother decided to teach him at home, nurturing his curiosity. She chose to homeschool him and encourage his love of learning. Decades later, this boy would become a world-changing inventor, developing the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb and earning his place in history. His name was Thomas Alva Edison. Good morning, respected judges and all my worthy opponents. I’m Aysel Rizwan Naqishbandi from class 7E, and today I’m here to challenge a stereotype that has plagued society for ages. “Do marks define intelligence?” Let's think about it . If marks did define intelligence, then wouldn’t Thomas's teacher be correct? Wouldn’t he make no significance in the world? But clearly, the opposite happened. He became an inspiration and role model for thousands of people. Not only him, but many others, such as Albert Einstein, who gave us the theory of relativity, though his grades were not an example of his achievements, and Winston Churchill, whom we know today as a great leader, who failed his entrance exam twice before passing. Or Sonam Wangchuck, the hero of the youth, who was called incapable in his own. Wouldn’t they have achieved nothing, just as society believed? According to a 2015 meta-analysis by Roth and colleagues, involving over 70,000 students, intelligence explained only about 29% of the differences in school grades. Imagine using something that can only be 29% accurate as a marking system to differentiate between intelligent and addled! There are about 150 types of intelligence in this world, and obviously, your grades just measure rote learning and retention. You may be really creative and artistic, but your grades aren’t as good, or you're someone who can’t perform well under pressure. Using this system to measure your capability is like judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree. To conclude, I would like to say that your grades aren’t a measure of your intelligence; they're merely a reflection of your learning and memorization. Your grades don’t define your worth, and everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, has a different type of intelligence. Find your type, use your potential, and shine!

Look, you cherry-picked four famous people out of billions. That's not evidence, that's a highlight reel. Most kids who struggle in school stay struggling because grades predict *effort and foundational skills*, not just IQ. Edison's mom could teach him at home—most families can't afford that luxury. Your 29% stat actually proves grades measure *something real* about success, not nothing. And honestly? Those 150 intelligences you mentioned aren't scientifically proven. If marks mean zero, why do top students consistently outperform others in every field they enter?

They don't necessarily, Success depends 71% on self discipline, time management and anxiety levels

Then why do disciplined kids with anxiety still get better grades than lazy geniuses? Grades measure what you *actually learned*, not just your vibe. Your own number proves it—if marks were fake, discipline wouldn't matter. So which is it?