If it possible to replicate the grades (i.e. different teachers give the same work the same mark) then it's possible to write rules for the grades. If it's poss

If it possible to replicate the grades (i.e. different teachers give the same work the same mark) then it's possible to write rules for the grades. If it's possible to write rules, it eventually gets possible to automate it. In either case it's possible to game the system if you know the rules (as you've said). The underlying problem is high-stakes testing. Remove that, and you remove the need for formulaic testing, and remove the incentive to game the testing. I'm not suggesting that means dropping rigor and consistency from the curriculum - there are other ways to achieve those, and they involve human effort i.e. talking to people. Which costs time and money.