First-Year Grading Policies
The information provided below explains how freshmen are graded at MIT, along with policies associated with the use and release of fall term internal "hidden" grades.
- Special Features of First-Year Grading
- Official versus Unofficial Grades
- Policy on Release of Unofficial Grades
Special Features of First-Year Grading
Freshmen are graded differently from upperclassmen. As well, your grades are also reported differently within MIT as well as on your outside official transcript. These policies are intended to help you adjust to MIT's teaching and grading methods and the increased workload without having to worry about accumulating a grade point average (GPA).
In your first semester and Independent Activities Period, you will receive grades of Pass or No Record:
- A grade of "C" or better equals "passing" for freshmen. Any subject you pass at the "C" level or greater is noted as "P" on both your external and internal transcripts.
- Non-passing grades of D or F only show up on internal transcripts; unofficial grades do not show up on any external transcript. The external transcript will show no record of failed subjects, i.e., those graded D or F).
- For advising purposes, you will receive internal "hidden" grades of A, B, or C. Hidden grades are neither figured into a GPA nor usable for any purpose other than advising.
- See Official versus Unofficial Grades.
In your second semester, you will receive "A", "B", or "C" grades.
- These are recorded both internally and on your official transcript; "D" and "F" grades continue to be noted only internally.
- You will not begin to accumulate a grade point average until second term, when only passing grades are used to figure your GPA.
Beginning in sophomore year, "A" through "F" grades will be reported, with "D" considered a passing grade.
See the Registrar's site for complete grading information.
Official versus Unofficial Grades
At the end of your first term at MIT you will receive both your official Pass/No Record grades and a copy of your unofficial "hidden" grades. You cannot use your hidden grades for any purpose other than advising.
Policy on Release of Freshman Internal Grades
MIT's educational policy is to provide internal "hidden" grades to students for educational and advising purposes only. In almost all circumstances, hidden grades will stay hidden and not included on an external transcript. MIT will not communicate your internal grades to your parents or any other third party outside of MIT without your specific written permission. See Student Information Policy for complete information.
