Each basic sciences course comprises points from standardized written assessments, professionalism, participation in formative assessments, scheduled class activities and assignments, and practical and clinical skills assessments. Each course uses a sequence of summative written assessments aligned with the module content and administered as standardized examinations to the cohort. Each course also includes a comprehensive examination assessing all clinical knowledge delivered in the curriculum to that point. Assessment scores are calculated across the cohort using standardized scoring methods. Each assessment contributes points toward the overall course grade, and the course syllabus defines the various assessments and their respective weighting in the calculation of the final grade. Course grades are assigned in accordance with the grade designations detailed below.
Students’ transcripts reflect their achievement of course requirements and academic performance. Throughout the term, students have access to their gradebooks to review their scores, ensure that all grades have been recorded, and request a review of participation records.
After each examination, students who wish to query an examination score must submit a Grade Query Form through the Learning Management System (LMS) to the course director within 24 hours of the posting of the score. The course director will review properly submitted grade queries and provide a written determination to the student within 5 business days of the query deadline.
Final Grade Provision
Course directors will post final grades to the LMS within 3 business days of the last regularly scheduled examination of the course (or the examination window for programs with multiple examinations during the final week) and make an appropriate announcement to all students. Students with completion examinations will receive an "I" grade until their completion examinations have been completed. Final grades for students with completion examinations will be posted within 2 business days of the last required completion examination.
Final Grade Queries
Students who wish to contest a final course grade due to a factual error (e.g., missing elements, missing points, calculation error, weighting error, or scaling error) must submit a Grade Query Form to the course director within 24 hours of the posting of the final course grade. The Grade Query Form is accessible through the course LMS.
Students querying a grade they believe is inaccurate must provide evidence of the factual error, such as:
- Discrepancies between ExamSoft mastery reports and gradebook entries;
- Incorrect summation of scores in the gradebook; or
- Other verifiable clerical or recording errors.
Grade queries must include documentary evidence of the alleged error or another verifiable basis for the query. Queries that lack supporting evidence, or that are based on personal extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, anxiety, family issues, or inability to meet course requirements), do not constitute a valid grade query.
The course director, in consultation with other course leadership, will review properly submitted grade queries and provide a written determination to the student within 24 hours of receiving the query, before the deadline for grade finalization.