The Impact of the Pass-Fail System upon Achievement of College Students
Recent discussions in academic and professional circles indicate that the pass-fail controversy still exists and that the merits of this grading system have not yet been sufficiently tested or universally accepted on the American scene. The educational considerations in favor of the acceptance of the pass-fail system by colleges and universities were summarized as follows in a survey report of the Pass-Fail Study Committee of Phi Beta Kappa in December, 1969:1 (1) the pass-fail option permits the student to study or learn without being inhibited by the pressure or emotional strain connected with the traditional methods of evaluation; (2) students have an opportunity to pursue courses in ''academically unfamiliar" areas without fear of poor grades; and (3) students following pass-fail options should display greater motivation and intellectual curiosity than those under traditional programs. A number of reports agree as to certain tendencies connected