Grading Policy
Overview
- Grades breakdown into three components: 1) summative evaluation, 2) NBME exam, and 3) cases / topic presentations / mini-CEX. The first two components are graded on the H/HP/P/F system. The third component is Pass/Fail. You must pass ALL 3 components in order to pass the clerkship.
- If you Fail the clerkship because of the evaluation then we will recommend repeating the clerkship to the Student Progress Committee. Repeating the clerkship means that you will repeat every component (CEX, exam, etc.) even if you passed that component the first time.
- If you Fail the clerkship because of the exam then we will recommend repeating the clerkship to the Student Progress Committee. Repeating the clerkship means that you will repeat every component (CEX, exam, etc.) even if you passed that component the first time.
- If you Fail the clerkship because of the cases / topic / mini-CEX then……well, don’t. This is low-hanging fruit. The clerkship director will call you to discuss remediation before a Fail grade is entered.
- It should mean something to get Honors. We anticipate that final grades for the whole class will be: 25% Honors, 25% High Pass, and 50% Pass. Hopefully, no students will Fail. Be assured that there is no preset curve and that 100% of students can receive Honors if deserving. Overall, it is difficult to get Honors in the clerkship unless you do really well on both the summative evaluation and final exam.
Below are two ways to look at the grades in table format. The first is a gestalt approach and is easier to read. The second is a numerical approach that matches the format of all the required clerkships.
Gestalt
| Summative Evaluation | NBME Subject Exam | Cases / Topic / Mini-CEX | Final Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honors | HP or Honors | Pass | Honors |
| Pass | Pass | High Pass | |
| High Pass | Honors | Pass | Honors |
| HP | Pass | High Pass | |
| Pass | Pass | Pass | |
| Pass | Honors | Pass | High Pass |
| HP or Pass | Pass | Pass | |
| Any passing grade | Any passing grade | Fail | Fail |
| Fail | Pass or Fail | Fail | |
| Fail | Any grade | Pass or Fail | Fail |
Numerical
- In general, the summative evaluation is the base grade, the final exam is 15%, and cases/topic/CEX is an all-or-none modifier of the grade.
- The summative evaluation score is computed by averaging RIME (1-5 for 4 indices). The IP categories are considered separately. See Student Evaluation for more information.
- Exception: Although mathematically possible, passing all 3 components will NOT result in a Fail. For example 2.5 (pass eval) – 0.75 (pass exam) + 0 (CEX) = 1.75 (fail grade). In this situation the grade will still be Pass.
- Exception: A Fail on the evaluation is an automatic Fail for the clerkship. For example 1.75 (fail eval) + 0.75 (honors exam) + 0 (CEX) = 2.5 (pass grade). Although mathematically possible, in this situation the grade will still be Fail.
| Summative Evaluation | + | NBME Subject Exam | + | Cases / Topic / Mini-CEX | = | Final Score / Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (H) 4.75 – 5.00 | (H) +0.75 | 4.75 or higher Honors | ||||
| (HP) 4.00 – 4.74 | (HP) 0 | 4.00 – 4.74 High Pass | ||||
| (P) 2.00 – 3.99 | (P) -0.75 | (P) 0 | 2.00 – 3.99 Pass | |||
| (F) <2.00 | (F) -4.00 | (F) -4.00 | <2.00 Fail |
Our goal is fair and objective grading. We will review all three components and the written comments from preceptors on each student. Special communication directly with the preceptor may be needed in certain cases.
Of course, grading is not a perfect process. Students challenging their final grade will be handled promptly on an individual basis by the clerkship director. Please see the school policy at https://sites.uw.edu/medevalu/clrk_gradechallenge/
Unexcused or unannounced absences may drop your grade one level or result in a Fail grade.