Comparison of dental students' academic performance using honors/pass/fail and letter grades

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.