Year performance and final achievement in a physiology course

The relationship between year performance and final achievement is examined for a second-year physiology course. A positive and significant correlation exists between the year mark and the examination mark with the predictive value of the year mark ranging from 44 to 85 per cent. Virtually all students with a year mark above 55 per cent pass the year. It is suggested that, in the case of failure, only students with a passing year mark should be allowed a supplementary examination and/or that the year mark should still count. In addition, it is clear that a strong case exists for using the year mark as the sole measure of pass or failure.