What do you think about a pass/fail grading system?

[Whatthefluff]

Say there are two colleges you're looking into.

One has a typical grading system where you might be graded for assignments/course ranging from A to F.

The other has a pass/fail grading system so if you pass a class you pass it, and if you fail you don't. The category of A-F doesn't exist.

What do you think is the cost and benefit of this?

[Pyrofox]

I think it would be better than the nastygrams that alphabetical grades can do. I mean ultimately then in private a teacher can give you the nitty gritty on your overall grade. IF you are actually investing into the course or schooling and want to be the best then you can see your grade but. in my opinion if you want to slack off I say the school should be held under no obligation to force you to see your true grade. And it should be clear from how teachers regard your school work if you are doing an acceptable amount of work.

[AviatorTom]

Pass/Fail is okay for some courses, say PhysEd or Health. In most classes, though, there is a benefit to both teacher and student with an A-F or 0-100 system... it gives you a sense of how well the student knows the material and what area (s) may still need work.

[Whatthefluff]

I think I'll agree. It depends on the course.

[TrueConfection]

When the schools closed here, they moved to a pass/fail grading system. Many teachers don't know how to grade pass/fail. Students were failing if they didn't achieve a perfect score.

What the schools did was give 2 points for pass and 0 for fail. Teachers were confused and giving 1 point if students didn't have a perfect assignment (that's just like getting a 50 which is still fail). Some teachers started awarding half points. It was a mess.

[Cherry234]

A pass/fail grading system puts less pressure on students to achieve a certain gpa. Besides, getting good grades doesn't necessarily mean you understand the material well (there is such a thing as grade inflation). Otoh, some students will not be as motivated to study and won't really learn the material to the best of their ability if all they're focused on is passing.

[loveslongnails]

Pass/Fail are for people who can't face competition or who don't strive to be better, or the best, at a given thing. How would you like your surgeon to have made it through med school on pass/fail? No thanks, I want to know who the top ones in the class are. If it's a course in philosophy, or political science, or sociology, then who cares?

[Physics-Man]

Honestly, I'd prefer if college course were pass/fail instead of letter grades. That way, I wouldn't have to work my mind off and worry about getting that 'A' grade, because it doesn't exist. All that would matter is passing, and not caring about how I performed or if it would affect my chances of getting accepted to the University of my choice due to its effect on my GPA.

[FreyaRed]

I guess, it will be difficult to estimate the right fail/pass threshold that is low enough for underperforming students and encourages overperforming ones.
For me is classical system with grades better.

[NathanDavis]

on the pass/fail system... if you fail the class you can't move on to the next class?

or you can just move on while you collect all kinds of fails along the way?

[Whatthefluff]

I'm assuming you'd have to retake it

[Bricealan]

In college, my (BEAUTIFUL) Spanis teacher let me DROP first year Spanish rather than give me a D! I was doing very poorly, although studying very hard and she recognized it. Pass/Fail would not have given her an option, unless she just let me drop

[HighValue]

It depends because some pass/fail schools require only 70% to pass and others require up to 90% minimum to pass. WGU requires 80% on multiple choice tests and 100% on term papers so it averages out to 90% minimum to pass for that college.

[slatyb]

Almost no one will care about your college GPA. If you apply to a job or graduate school, they will more deeply, and pay attention to your recommendations. I am working for a brilliant manager whose college GPA was something like 2.5.

[RedStiletto88]

I think there is a difference between someone who fully understands the material and makes the extra effort versus someone who did the bare minimum to pass.

[exitseven]

I teach at college and it would make my life easier but I think it robs the student of the feeling of accomplishment they get when they really excel at something and also the sense of competition which will prepare them for real life.

[MCheetah]

I think most people are fine with pass/fail systems, but personally, I am not. Quality matters to me. (And I already fail so many things in life, anyway.)

[imsocool1806]

it's so dumb it's numbers 9-1 and if you get an 8 or 9 it practically means the same and now they want to add a 10 like actually stop pls

[Gwenhwyfar]

Employers and grad schools don’t take pass/fail as seriously. Don’t do it if you have another option.

[notwoke]

this way we can always give minorities a "pass" and we can avoid hurting anyone's feelings and be super woke! YAY!, but we'll have to give up having the best and brightest doing heart surgery and designing vehicle safety systems. I can't wait

[msc545]

It depends heavily on the subject. For STEM classes, I want a grade. For humanities classes. pass/fail works better for me. HOWEVER, these are just my preferences, and the opposites may be better for others...

[NotTacocaT6969]

It doesn’t work considering adults who graduated this system tend to lack common sense.

[VikingWarLord]

Stop going to college!!
All the jobs are gonna be replaced with robots soon.

[emperor90]

Neither sounds gokd in my opinion i think have pass or fail is better then a through to f then it is fair across the board

[ChefPapiChulo]

thats pretty much how it is anyways if a person just does their homework. they'll automatically get a B+, A-

[Anonymous]

It's idiotic. I'm not a fan of no child left behind either.. It's being pushed by leftists who value skin color over ability..

[Massageman]

It's as useful as a centipede with broken legs.

[BarryLiverstone]

I don’t like it. It doesn’t motivate students

[EaterPeter]

Bad either way. Not yet system sounds better.