> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ismms-md-program.gitbook.io/medical-student-handbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ismms-md-program.gitbook.io/medical-student-handbook/policies-and-procedures/md-program-specific-policies-and-procedures/assessment-and-grading.md).

# Assessment and Grading

**The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai will maintain and provide an accurate grading history for all courses taken by students in the School.The School’s grading policies in this section address how students are graded, grade submissions, appeals, and potential conflicts of interests**.

Please note:

* Students who matriculated in 2024 and thereafter are subject to ASCEND policies.
* Students who matriculated in 2023 or earlier and who are graduating in 2027 or earlier are subject to the LEGACY curriculum policies.
* Students who matriculated in 2023 or earlier who are graduating in 2028 or thereafter will be subject to a mix of policies depending on when their progression was delayed or temporarily halted. These students will be subject to ASCEND policies when they resume or continue their studies.

***

## <mark style="color:blue;">Legacy Policies</mark>

<details>

<summary><strong>Grading Policy Years 1 and 2</strong><br><em>This policy includes information about grading in the Legacy Curriculum for Years 1 and 2.</em></summary>

<table><thead><tr><th valign="top"></th><th valign="top"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Applicable for:</strong><br>Graduating Classes of 2025, 2026, 2027</td><td valign="top"><strong>Approved by:</strong> <br>Executive Oversight Committee</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Relevant LCME Standards:</strong><br>9.6 Setting Standards of Achievement</td><td valign="top"><strong>Approval Dates:</strong><br>7/8/22<br>5/5/23<br>4/19/24</td></tr></tbody></table>

**RELATED POLICIES**

* Remediation Policy - Years 1 and 2
* Grade Submission Policy
* Absence Policy
* Yearly Progression Policy

***

**POLICY**

Course grading in Years 1 and 2 is on a Pass/Fail basis. The criterion for passing each course is provided to students in the Course Information Sheet at the start of each course.

For longitudinal courses across Years 1 and 2, (i.e., The Art & Science of Medicine), the final course grade is determined at the end of Year 2. The final course grade of Pass or Fail is reflected on the student’s transcript.

***

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Grading Policy Years 3 and 4</strong><br><em>This policy includes information about grading in the Legacy Curriculum for Years 3 and 4.</em></summary>

<table><thead><tr><th valign="top"></th><th valign="top"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Applicable for:</strong><br>Graduating Classes of 2025, 2026, 2027</td><td valign="top"><strong>Approved by:</strong> <br>Executive Oversight Committee</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Relevant LCME Standards:</strong><br>9.6 Setting Standards of Achievement</td><td valign="top"><strong>Approval Dates:</strong><br>7/8/22<br>6/2/23<br>4/19/24</td></tr></tbody></table>

**RELATED POLICIES**

* Academic Integrity
* Remediation - Years 3 & 4
* Technical Standards

***

**THIRD YEAR REQUIRED CLERKSHIPS GRADING POLICY**

All Clerkships are graded Honors, Pass, and Fail, using a criterion-based rubric, outlined in the clerkship’s Clerkship Information Sheet (CIS). Each required clerkship has criteria for each of these grades linked to every clerkship learning objective. These criteria vary by clerkship.

For Year 3 clerkships, each Clerkship Director submits a final grade that includes narrative feedback. The final grade for the third-year clerkships is included in a student's Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) for residency applications.

Criteria for Grade of PASS

To Pass the required clerkships, the student must fulfill ALL of the criteria stated below:

* Meet the ‘Pass’ level of criteria for EVERY learning objective as listed in the Clerkship Information Sheet (CIS).
* Complete and log all Required Clinical Experiences prior to last day of the clerkship
* Complete and submit all clerkship-specific requirements.
* Accrue no more than three “marks” on the Behavioral Grading Criteria listed in the CIS

Criteria for Grade of HONORS

To receive a grade of HONORS, the student must fulfill ALL of the criteria stated below:

* Achieve the ‘Honors’ level of criteria for a set number of learning objectives (defined per clerkship in the CIS).
* Accrue no more than one “mark” on the Behavioral Grading Criteria listed in the CIS

Criteria for Grade of FAIL

* A student who does not complete ALL requirements to PASS the clerkship will receive a grade of FAIL

Additionally, students who are suspected of violating the Academic Integrity Policy will be referred to the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Senior Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs. If the Deans determine that the student violated the Academic Integrity Policy as part of a clerkship activity or assessment, the Deans may assign a grade of Fail (in addition to other disciplinary action as delineated in the Academic Integrity Policy).

A student who receives a failing grade for a clerkship must remediate the clerkship as explained in the ISMMS Remediation Policy - Years 3 and 4.

Incomplete

A student who cannot complete a clerkship or its requirements, will receive an Incomplete. An Incomplete will change to Honors, Pass or Fail once the student has completed all requirements of the clerkship.

NBME Subject Exam

A student who fails the NBME subject exam on the first attempt will receive a temporary grade of Conditional, provided other assessments and clinical evaluations are satisfactory. Upon successful completion of the failed exam at retake, the grade is revised to a Pass or Honors depending on the clerkship grading criteria. If the student fails the exam on the retake, they will receive a failing grade for the clerkship.

***

**FOURTH YEAR REQUIRED CLERKSHIPS GRADING POLICY**

All Year 4 Clerkships and Acting Internships (AI) are graded Honors, Pass, and Fail, using a criterion-based rubric outlined in the clerkship’s Clerkship Information Sheet (CIS).

Criteria for Grade of PASS

Each required clerkship and AI has specific Pass criteria linked to each learning objective. These criteria may vary by clerkship/acting internship. All criteria are stated in the CIS. To Pass the required clerkships, the student must fulfill ALL of the criteria stated below:

* Meet the ‘Pass’ level of criteria for EVERY learning objective as listed in the Clerkship Information Sheet (CIS).
* Complete and submit all clerkship-specific requirements.
* Accrue no more than three “marks” on the Behavioral Grading Criteria listed in the CIS

Criteria for Grade of HONORS

To receive a grade of HONORS, the student must fulfill ALL of the criteria stated below:

* Fulfill ALL of the criteria for passing outlined above
* Achieve the ‘Honors’ level of criteria for a set number of learning objectives (defined per clerkship in the CIS).
* Accrue no more than one “mark” on the Behavioral Grading Criteria listed in the CIS

Criteria for Grade of FAIL

* A student who does not complete ALL requirements to PASS the clerkship will receive a grade of FAIL

Additionally, students who are suspected of violating the Academic Integrity Policy will be referred to the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Senior Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs. If the Deans determine that the student violated the Academic Integrity Policy as part of a clerkship activity or assessment, the Deans may assign a grade of Fail (in addition to other disciplinary action as delineated in the Academic Integrity Policy).

A student who receives a failing grade for a clerkship/acting internship cannot graduate and must remediate the clerkship prior to May of the academic year as explained in the ISMMS Remediation Policy - Years 3 and 4.

Other

A student who cannot complete a clerkship or its requirements, will receive an Incomplete. An Incomplete will change to Honors, Pass or Fail once the student has completed the clerkship and its assessments.

***

**COURSES**

Courses in Years 3 and 4 are graded as Pass and Fail.

***

**ELECTIVES**

Clinical electives are graded Honors, Pass, and Fail. Non-clinical electives are graded as Pass or Fail.

Clinical Electives

Students must receive at least three (3) of five (5) criteria in the ‘Honors’ category to receive HONORS. A student who does not complete ALL requirements to PASS the elective will receive a grade of FAIL.

Non-clinical Electives

Student must PASS all criteria to pass the elective.

***

</details>

***

## <mark style="color:blue;">ASCEND Policies</mark>

<details>

<summary><a href="https://public.powerdms.com/IcahnSMMS/tree/documents/2865039"><strong>Grading Policy</strong></a> <strong>(All Phases)</strong><br><em>This policy includes information about grading all Phases of the ASCEND Curriculum</em></summary>

</details>

<details>

<summary><a href="https://public.powerdms.com/IcahnSMMS/tree/documents/2865042"><strong>Retake Policy - Phase 1</strong></a><br><em>This policy includes information about retakes in Phase 1 of the ASCEND Curriculum</em></summary>

</details>

## <mark style="color:blue;">ASCEND and LEGACY Policies</mark>

### **These policies are applicable to students in the&#x20;**<mark style="color:blue;">**Legacy**</mark>**&#x20;Curriculum and the&#x20;**<mark style="color:blue;">**ASCEND**</mark>**&#x20;Curriculum.**

<details>

<summary><a href="https://public.powerdms.com/IcahnSMMS/tree/documents/2865035"><strong>Conflicts of Interest in Student Assessment Policy</strong></a><br><em>This policy seeks to mitigate the impact that dual relationships and conflicts of interest (COI) between students and faculty, non-faculty instructors, and residents may have on the assessment and evaluation of students.</em></summary>

</details>

<details>

<summary><a href="https://public.powerdms.com/IcahnSMMS/tree/documents/2865037"><strong>Formative Feedback Policy</strong></a><br><em>This policy includes information about formative feedback requirements for students throughout the four-year MD curriculum</em></summary>

</details>

<details>

<summary><a href="https://public.powerdms.com/IcahnSMMS/tree/documents/2865038"><strong>Grades Review and Appeals Policy</strong></a><br><em>This policy includes information about how to appeal a final grade or narrative grade.</em></summary>

</details>

<details>

<summary><a href="https://public.powerdms.com/IcahnSMMS/tree/documents/2872406"><strong>Grade Submission Policy</strong></a><br><em>This policy includes information about the timely submission of final grade.</em></summary>

</details>

<details>

<summary><a href="https://public.powerdms.com/IcahnSMMS/tree/documents/2865041"><strong>Narrative Assessment Policy</strong></a><br><em>This policy includes information about the narrative assessments</em></summary>

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Grades and Transcripts Policy</strong><br><em>This policy outlines how grades appear on a student’s official transcript.</em></summary>

<table><thead><tr><th valign="top"></th><th valign="top"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Curricular Structure:</strong><br>All Medical Students in Legacy and ASCEND</td><td valign="top"><strong>Approved by:</strong> <br>Executive Oversight Committee</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Relevant LCME Standards:</strong><br></td><td valign="top"><strong>Approval Dates:</strong><br>4/19/24</td></tr></tbody></table>

**RELATED POLICIES**

* Grading Policy

***

**POLICY**

This policy outlines how grades appear on a student’s official transcript.

***

**PROCESS**

Official transcripts will identify a grade for each module, course, clerkship, and elective taken at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai toward fulfillment of the MD degree requirements.

Written narrative evaluations are not part of the transcript and will not be duplicated or mailed with transcripts; however, all clinical narratives for clinical courses and clerkships completed by the end of Year 3 are included in the MSPE.

***

</details>