Mayo Medical School uses a criterion-based grading system to qualify for Honors, High Pass, Pass, Marginal Pass or Fail. Faculty members are encouraged to add narrative comments that address student strengths and weaknesses and to describe areas of individual talent, personal growth and achievement. These narrative comments are an important part of the evaluation process. Students are evaluated using a variety of methods, including written and oral examinations of cognitive knowledge and direct observation of clinical skills. The small class size and the preceptorial nature of many of the experiences facilitate direct and immediate discussion of student performance.
Successful performance is a requirement for graduation.
All students are required to take Steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensure Examination. Although not used to determine advancement or promotion, it is expected that each student will pass both parts of the examination before graduation. Students have the opportunity to do their own evaluating. Faculty and course evaluations are completed by the students for each segment of the curriculum. These evaluations are regularly reviewed by the dean and by the student and faculty members of the appropriate curriculum committees.