Clinical Grading System
Performance during the clinical years is assessed using a 3-component grading system aligned with the MD Program objectives. Each grading component represents a competency: Knowledge, Clinical Skills, and Professional Behavior. Subcomponents and assessment measures are used to determine achievement in each competency.
Final clerkship grades are reported as Honors, High Pass, Pass, or Fail, except for Family Medicine, which is graded Pass or Fail.
Determination of Component Grades
The Knowledge component is assessed through performance on the NBME Clinical Subject Examination and the Mid-Core Examination. Rubrics are used to determine the Clinical Skills and Professional Behavior subcomponent and component grades (Appendix M).
The following table shows how assessment measures and subcomponent grades are used to determine the three component grades:
Grading Structure for Core Rotations and Required Family Medicine: Component Grades
Component and subcomponent results are reported as letter grades (H, HP, P, F) in the Final Evaluation within the Clinical Evaluation System (ClinEval). When numeric values are needed to apply subcomponent and component weightings, the following conversion table is used:
Letter Grade Conversion Table
| Letter Grade | Numeric Equivalent |
| H | 95 |
| HP | 85 |
| P | 75 |
| F | 65 |
Determination of Final Grade for Core Rotations and Required Family Medicine
The three component grades are used to determine the final clerkship grade, as shown in the table below:
Component 1: Knowledge Competency
Component 2: Clinical Skills Competency
Component 3: Professional Behavior Competency
ME: An ME is a placeholder grade reported when a student has submitted a valid clinical/medical excuse for a missed examination and the final course grade is pending the final examination. Once the course requirements are completed, a re-evaluation is undertaken and a Change of Grade is issued to finalize the grade record.
NG: An NG grade is reported as a placeholder when the Clinical Skills and/or Professional Behavior components are pending finalization. Once all component grades have been finalized, a re-evaluation is undertaken and a Change of Grade is issued to finalize the grade record.
I: An “I” grade is a placeholder reported when remediation of a failed component is pending. Once remediation is complete, a re-evaluation is undertaken and a Change of Grade is issued to finalize the grade record.
Transcript Grades and WMPG Calculations
Students’ transcripts show the final letter grade earned for each core rotation: H, HP, P, or F.
When numeric values are required to calculate the Weighted Mean Percentage Grade (WMPG), the numeric equivalents in the Letter Grade Conversion Table presented earlier in this section are used.