Why Do Pass Fail

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It has come to my attention that select administrators at Truman State University are considering a drastic change in grading policies for upper-level courses. This group has proposed that all upper level classes –excluding all principles and introductory level courses –would be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Departing from traditional policies requiring all upper-level classes to be graded on a percentage basis (with a subsequent letter) they aim to measure academic performance using a very simple metric: pass or fail. While this method may actually provide positive results, there are many things to consider first before implementing a system that has not been used to this extent before. The first considerations the school should take into account are the key issues involved with the reform as well as all parties affected by the decision. It is important to consider not only the student that is being graded on …show more content…
Does pass/fail really work, or is the percentage system far more reliable? After researching several authoritative sources, it is apparent that there are advantages and disadvantages to each system. According to the organization “Connect Us” that specializes in global issues, including those educational, there are many pros and cons to each side of the argument. Several spectators of the pass fail grading system criticizes the system, claiming it eliminates competitiveness, provides inaccurate representations of performance level and knowledge, decreases incentive, and makes it impossible to convert passing grades to exact scoring. Meanwhile, supporters of the policy believe it puts less pressure on students, gives students a better idea of their clear weaknesses and strengths, alleviates workloads, and leads to better engagement between students and difficult content (“8 Principal Pros and