COMPARISON OF MEDICAL STUDENT GRADING SYSTEMS – FROM IOWA CITY, IOWA TO IRBID, JORDAN

Thomas J. Schmidt ^1* , Yousef Khader², Zeyad El-Akawi², and AbdelFattah Al-Hader², ¹Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 U.S.A., and ²Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JORDAN.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast the grading systems used to evaluate medical student at the University of Iowa and the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

METHODS: Specific details concerning course grading systems and graduation requirements were obtained during invited presentations in Jordan and by comparing the appropriate grading policy documents prepared by both medical schools.

RESULTS: At the University of Iowa, students are graded in all courses, including electives, using the following scale: Honors (90% or above), Near Honors, Pass, and Fail. A final course grade of 70% or above guarantees a Pass grade. To prevent potential grade inflation, no more than 30% of the class should fall into the combined Honors/Near Honors category. Students do not receive a grade point average and are not ranked. Students must achieve a passing grade in all required courses and electives to graduate after four years. In contrast, Jordanian medical students are graded on the following scale: Excellent (90-100%), Very Good (80-89%), Good (70-79%), Acceptable (60-69%), Weak (50-59%), and Fail (<50%). Students must thus achieve a score of 50% to pass each course. Elective courses are graded on a Pass or Fail basis. In order to graduate, students are required to achieve a minimum grade point average of 60% based on their performance in all six years of study. The cumulative grade point average at graduation determines the class rank for each student.

CONCLUSION: Although the medical schools in Iowa City and Irbid have very similar educational missions, the grading systems utilized at these two institutions vary significantly.