Policy on Grading for the Core Clerkships in the Second 100 Weeks

Students earn a grade of Honors, High Pass, Pass, or Fail for each grading element according to pre-set standards.

1. ACE Rounds*
2. Clinical Reasoning Assessment (Admission Notes/Write-ups/Written Exam)*
3. Clinical Assessment of Student
4. NBME Clinical Subject "Shelf" Exam
5. Standardized Patient-Integrated Clinical Assessment.

A final grade of Honors, High Pass, or Pass is determined by standards pre-specified by the standard setting committee.

If a student earns a grade of Fail on one or more grading element(s) in the course but the student does not meet criteria to fail the course, as determined by the standard setting process, the student will earn a temporary designation of Conditional Pass and will be required to reassess the grading elements that did not meet the passing standard to be eligible for advancement or graduation. For more information on reassessment requirements and procedures, please refer to the Policy on Reassessment.

If a student earns a temporary designation of Conditional Pass in more than two clerkships, the student may be reviewed by the Student Advancement Committee for required remediation of those clerkships. 

In the first attempt of a course, if a student earns a grade of Fail on one or more grading element(s) in the course and the student meets criteria to fail the course, the student will earn a final course grade of Fail and will be required to remediate (repeat and pass) the course to advance to the next year of training. The opportunity to remediate will be subject to the decision of the Student Advancement Committee. In the second attempt of a course, if a student earns a grade of Fail on one or more grading elements, the student will earn a final course grade of Fail and the school's expectation is that the student will be dismissed from the MD program, pending the Student Advancement Committee's recommendation.

If a student earns a final grade of Fail for two core clerkships in the same trimester, the student will be considered for dismissal by the Student Advancement Committee.

If a student earns a final grade of Fail or a temporary designation of Conditional Pass on more than two clerkships, the student may be reviewed by the Student Advancement Committee for required remediation of those clerkships and may be considered for dismissal from the MD program. 

Upon completion of the core clerkships students are required to take the Comprehensive Clinical Skills Examination (C-CSE). This exam features standardized patient encounters that assess the integrated clinical knowledge and skills developed throughout the academic year. Students may be permitted to take the C-CSE prior to completing all core clerkships only in exceptional circumstances and with the approval from the Associate Dean for Advanced Clinical Experiences.

The C-CSE is graded on a Pass/Fail basis by pre-specified standards.

Passing the C-CSE is a requirement for graduation.

If a student does not pass the C-CSE on their first attempt, the student will be granted an opportunity for reassessment to meet the required standards.

If a student does not pass the C-CSE on their second attempt, the student will be reviewed by the Student Advancement Committee for required remediation and may be considered for dismissal from the MD program.