title: Comparison of dental students' academic performance using honors/pass/fail and letter grades.
abstract: Performance in a second-year course in pedodontics/orthodontics for three classes of students at the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine who received grades under an honors/pass/fail system was compared to that of three academically comparable classes that received letter grades. The average scores from the pedodontic/orthodontic section of the Part II National Board examination also were compared. The dental students taught under the letter grade system achieved a small but statistically significant higher grade point average in the dental course than the students taught under the honors/pass/fail system. The difference between the National Board scores was not statistically significant. It was concluded that while the letter grade system provided incentive for the students to perform at a higher level than those under the honors/pass/fail system, it did not influence their performance on the National Board examination.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Leske
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ripa
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001076:Aptitude; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004497:Education, Dental; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education; D013335:Students, Dental