grading

noun

act/process of reshaping a surface to improve a feature (often to increase or decrease steepness; e.g. a road)
act/process of having or causing to have gradation, reshaping, adjusting, or blending a feature (e.g. a hillside, color)
act/process of examining and assigning a grade to something (e.g. a student's work)

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹeɪdɪŋ/

A rank or grade.
“He had no fear of Keefer's higher military rank. He was sure the communicator laughed at such gradings.”
“No matter how dubious, or even fictitious, examination gradings may sometimes be, they make judgements possible on educational progress and on the maintenance of standards.”
Gradation.
The act of reshaping the contour of the landscape so as to provide rainwater drainage around buildings, create lawns and gardens, prepare roadbeds, and so on.
Ellipsis of grading period.
“Today is my first grading exam.”